By Neil James – Do Not Use Shaw – Do Not Use,Neil Shaw,Robert Rowlands
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Amazon is set to shut down all of its Amazon Fresh grocery shops across the UK, placing staff at the retail giant in jeopardy. The American company revealed it intends to close its 19 Amazon Fresh outlets but is suggesting it will transform five of these into Whole Foods establishments. The firm stated the decision forms part of a broader restructuring of its UK grocery operations, which will pivot attention towards its online platform, with executives insisting it remains “deeply invested” in Britain. Amazon announced on Tuesday that it has initiated a consultation process regarding the proposed closure of the Amazon Fresh UK shops. The company is in talks with staff at the locations but declined to specify how many employees will be impacted, reports Devon Live . Nevertheless, it confirmed plans to provide affected personnel with fresh positions elsewhere within the organisation. Amazon initially launched the Fresh brand in 2021, unveiling its debut checkout-free shop in Ealing, featuring technology that enabled shoppers to depart with their purchases without needing to use a checkout. Customers utilised an app to access the shop and were subsequently charged via the platform upon departure, with an array of cameras and additional technology employed to determine which items they had taken. Yet the corporation scaled back substantial expansion plans for the venture as consumer appetite diminished following the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Under the proposals, the retail giant is looking to transform five of the 19 shops into its Whole Foods Market brand, which specialises in organic produce. The conversion plans alongside two additional new locations are anticipated to expand the Whole Foods operation to 12 shops by the close of next year. On Tuesday, Amazon also revealed it intends to double the number of Prime subscription customers with access to at least three of the retailer’s grocery alternatives, via its partners Morrisons , Iceland, Co-op and Gopuff. The company also announced it will launch fresh groceries including dairy, meat and seafood on Amazon.co.uk from next year. John Boumphrey, country manager for Amazon UK, said: “Since 2008, we’ve worked hard to innovate to help our customers save time and money when shopping for groceries and household essentials. We continue to invent and invest to bring more choice and convenience to UK customers, enabling them to shop for a wide range of everyday essentials and groceries with low prices and fast delivery through Amazon.co.uk, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market stores, alongside our third-party grocery partners, including Morrisons, Co-op, Iceland, and Gopuff.” Except for one branch in Sevenoaks, Kent, all the Amazon Fresh shops are situated in London. In full, they include: Richmond, Wandsworth, Ealing Broadway, and East Sheen stores were shut down between 2023 and early 2025, leaving a total of 19 sites still in operation.
