Amazon is preparing to shut down its 19 UK grocery stores, less than five years after the tech giant launched its first cashier-free location in London.
The company announced that while some sites will close completely, five of them are set to be converted into Whole Foods stores, a brand Amazon already owns.
The company explained that the move comes after a “thorough evaluation of business operations and the very substantial growth opportunities in online delivery.”
Background of Amazon Fresh in the UK
Amazon opened its first UK grocery store in Ealing Broadway in March 2021. The innovative “just walk out” model allowed shoppers to pick up items and leave the store, with their Amazon accounts automatically billed using in-store cameras and tracking technology.
Despite the futuristic shopping concept, the company has been scaling back. In 2023, Amazon closed three of its Fresh stores in London. Now, it has confirmed the entire UK store portfolio will go, with closures affecting locations across London and beyond.
What happens next
According to Amazon, around 250 staff work at the affected stores. The company has launched a consultation process and pledged to “offer redeployment opportunities to as many affected employees as possible.”
Amazon UK country manager John Boumphrey stressed that the company would still “continue to invent and invest” in the UK market. The focus will now be on online delivery, where Amazon already partners with major British retailers including Morrisons, Co-op, Iceland, and Gopuff.
If the Whole Foods expansion goes ahead as planned, the brand could have 12 UK outlets by the end of 2026.
Reactions from experts and unions
Retail analysts were not surprised by the move. Sucharita Kodali, of Forrester, said grocery is “very competitive everywhere in the world, including the UK,” and noted that Amazon Fresh “may not even have ideal locations, so it’s probably not been set up well for success from the start.”
She added that Amazon “continues to be experimental” but hasn’t yet found a clear, profitable strategy for physical grocery stores.
Danni Hewson, from AJ Bell, remarked that the till-less model “always felt a little awkward” and that Amazon’s true strength lies in delivery. “It’s no surprise that as one door closes many more van doors are set to open,” she said, pointing to Amazon’s plans to expand grocery access for Prime members and fresh produce through its online store.
The GMB union, which represents some Amazon Fresh employees, criticized the closures. “Considering Amazon are one of the richest companies in the world, the cavalier way in which they treat staff, and hire and fire them, speaks volumes about their ethics. Frankly, workers deserve better,” a spokesperson said.
Amazon’s broader track record
Amazon is known for experimenting with new ventures and then pivoting quickly. In 2024, the company abandoned its robot security project just nine months after launch. Despite these stops and starts, Amazon remains dominant in multiple sectors, from parcel delivery to streaming services, with analysts describing it as an “omnipresent” company.
Stores closing across the UK
The full list of Amazon Fresh stores slated for closure includes:
- Aldgate
- Angel
- Chingford
- East Croydon
- Euston
- Holborn
- Hounslow
- Hoxton
- Kensington
- Liverpool Street
- Moorgate
- Monument
- Notting Hill Gate
- Southwark
- Sevenoaks
- Wembley
- West Hampstead
- White City
- Wood Wharf
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