Amazon has confirmed plans to close all 19 of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores across the United Kingdom, marking a significant withdrawal from its physical retail grocery operations in the country. The move follows a formal proposal issued by the company and includes the potential conversion of five locations into Whole Foods Market stores. The closures will affect locations primarily in London and surrounding areas, where the Fresh stores had been operating since their UK debut in 2021.
Amazon has begun a legally mandated consultation process with employees impacted by the proposed closures. While the company did not disclose the number of employees affected, it said it would explore redeployment opportunities across other parts of its UK business. Of the 19 Amazon Fresh stores, 14 are expected to shut permanently, while five are proposed to be repurposed as Whole Foods Market outlets. If approved, these conversions would bring the number of Whole Foods Market stores in the UK to 12 by the end of 2026.
Amazon has not provided a definitive timeline for the store closures or conversions but stated that affected sites would be communicated to employees during the consultation. The Amazon Fresh stores in the UK were notable for implementing “Just Walk Out” technology, which allowed customers to shop without using traditional checkout tills. The system used cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence to track purchases, automatically billing customers through the Amazon app upon exiting the store.
Amazon Fresh exits UK retail space after four years
Despite the technological innovation, the UK rollout remained limited compared to Amazon’s grocery footprint in the United States. The company said it would continue to operate and expand its online grocery services in the UK, which are available through Amazon.co.uk and the Amazon Fresh online platform. These services currently offer same-day and next-day grocery delivery in partnership with established UK retailers, including Morrisons, Co-op, Iceland and Gopuff. Amazon plans to introduce fresh grocery items, including meat, seafood, dairy and produce, through its main Amazon platform in 2026.
The expansion will enable customers to order perishable goods online for scheduled delivery across various UK regions. The move builds on Amazon’s integration of grocery delivery into its Prime membership program and follows enhancements to its logistics and distribution infrastructure in the country. While the company is exiting the UK’s physical grocery store market through the Fresh brand, it reiterated its ongoing commitment to the UK economy.
No impact on Amazon Fresh operations outside the UK
Earlier this year, Amazon announced it would invest £40 billion in the UK over the next three years. The investment includes new fulfillment centers, data infrastructure, and initiatives focused on artificial intelligence and renewable energy. Amazon Fresh stores in the UK were the company’s first checkout-free grocery locations outside the United States. The first store opened in Ealing, West London, in March 2021. The format was later extended to other parts of the capital and nearby areas but did not reach the scale seen in the US market.
The decision to close the UK stores does not affect Amazon Fresh operations in the United States, where the company continues to operate a network of physical grocery stores alongside Whole Foods Market and other retail formats. These U.S. locations remain active, with Amazon maintaining its presence in the competitive American grocery sector through ongoing retail initiatives and technology integration. The company has not announced any changes to its U.S. operations, and Amazon Fresh stores in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., continue to serve customers with the same checkout-free technology and delivery options. – By EuroWire News Desk.