Amazon has announced it will shut down its entire UK Amazon Fresh operation, placing approximately 250 retail positions in jeopardy.
The e-commerce giant confirmed on Tuesday that all 19 Fresh outlets across Britain face closure as the company launches formal consultations with staff.
The retailer indicated that not every employee would lose their position, pledging to relocate affected workers to alternative roles within the organisation where possible.
The closures form part of a comprehensive restructuring of Amazon's British grocery strategy, with executives emphasising the company remains "deeply invested" in the UK market despite the store shutdowns.
Five of the shuttered locations will undergo transformation into Whole Foods Market outlets, the company's premium grocery chain specialising in organic products.
These conversions, combined with two additional planned sites, will expand the Whole Foods presence to a dozen stores across Britain by the close of 2026.
The strategic shift represents Amazon's renewed commitment to physical retail through its upmarket grocery brand, even as it withdraws from the Fresh format.
Amazon to close ALL Fresh grocery stores in major blow to UK high street - 250 jobs at risk
|PA
Here are the locations of the Amazon Fresh stores, which are all currently set to close:
- Aldgate, Greater London
- Angel, Greater London
- Chingford, Greater London
- East Croydon, Greater London
- Euston, Greater London
- Holborn, Greater London
- Hounslow, Greater London
- Hoxton, Greater London
- Kensington, Greater London
- Liverpool Street, Greater London
- Moorgate, Greater London
- Monument, Greater London
- Notting Hill Gate, Greater London
- Southwark, Greater London
- Sevenoaks, Greater London
- Wembley, Greater London
- West Hampstead, Greater London
- White City, Greater London
- Wood Wharf, Greater London
The company has not disclosed which specific Fresh locations will be selected for conversion to Whole Foods outlets.
Amazon revealed plans to enhance its digital grocery offerings by adding fresh products to its main website starting next year.
The range will encompass dairy products, meat and seafood, marking a significant expansion of the platform's grocery selection.
The company also intends to double the number of Prime members who can access at least three grocery delivery options through expanded collaborations with established retailers.
The US-based firm said it plans to shut its 19 Amazon Fresh stores, but is proposing to convert five of these into Whole Foods stores.
| PAThese partnerships include Morrisons, Iceland, Co-op and Gopuff, broadening the delivery network available to subscribers.
John Boumphrey, Amazon UK's country manager, stated: "Since 2008, we've worked hard to innovate to help our customers save time and money when shopping for groceries and household essentials."
The Fresh concept debuted in 2021 with its inaugural outlet in Ealing, featuring revolutionary checkout-free shopping.
The technology-driven stores represented Amazon's attempt to revolutionise British grocery shopping
| GETTYCustomers entered using a mobile application and departed without queuing at tills, with sophisticated camera systems and sensors tracking their selections for automatic billing.
The innovative retail format initially showed promise but struggled to maintain momentum as consumer habits shifted following the pandemic's end. Reduced shopper interest prompted Amazon to scale back its ambitious expansion plans for the Fresh brand.
The technology-driven stores represented Amazon's attempt to revolutionise British grocery shopping, though market conditions ultimately proved unfavourable for sustained growth.
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