Amazon will shut down all 19 of its Amazon Fresh grocery shops in the UK, with five of them set to be converted into Whole Foods Market outlets. The closures mark the end of the company’s experiment with cashierless grocery stores, launched in 2021 with the promise of seamless, app-based shopping.
The Fresh concept relied on cameras and sensors to automatically charge customers for items as they left. However, the idea failed to gain traction after the pandemic, leaving Amazon unable to compete with established supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Amazon has not confirmed how many jobs will be affected but says staff will be offered roles in other parts of the business. The move signals a broader pivot towards Whole Foods, which Amazon acquired in 2017, as the centrepiece of its grocery strategy.
At the same time, Amazon is expanding partnerships with UK retailers including Morrisons, Co-op, Iceland, and Gopuff. From next year, customers will be able to buy fresh groceries such as dairy, meat, and seafood directly through the Amazon website.
The decision comes amid increased scrutiny from regulators. The Groceries Code Adjudicator launched an investigation into Amazon in June over claims the company was failing to pay suppliers on time.
Amazon UK boss John Boumphrey said the company would continue to “invent and invest” in groceries, focusing on low prices, convenience, and wider choice through its online platform and retail partners.
