Amazon Fresh has been in the UK since 2021, with the first store opening in the Ealing Broadway Centre in London. Since then, more stores have opened and some closed and now Amazon has decided to close 14 of its Fresh stores in London.
14 of the Amazon Fresh stores the UK will close with the remaining five to be repurposed as Whole Foods Market stores, a company which Amazon also owns.
When Amazon debuted its Fresh stores it was a pioneering concept, featuring Amazon's own Just Walk Out technology, allowing shoppers to scan a QR code on the way in, pick up what they need and then simply leave. However, the lack of options if paying with cash has alienated a small proportion of people and the fact you need an Amazon account to essentially use the store.
Amazon is planning on having 12 Whole Foods Market stores up and running in the UK, by the end of 2026. Going forward, Amazon itself in the UK will be focusing on online grocery deliveries.
Source: Amazon
