Amazon pivots UK grocery: Fresh stores closing, focus shifts to Same‑Day delivery

Amazon announced it will close 14 Amazon Fresh stores in the UK and convert the remaining five to Whole Foods Market. The company said it will focus on online grocery deliveries and plans to add perishables to its Same‑Day Delivery service in the UK by 2026.

Key points

• 19 Amazon Fresh locations in the UK: 14 will close, 5 will convert to Whole Foods Market.
• Amazon is shifting investment toward online grocery and Same‑Day Delivery for perishables (targeted rollout by 2026).
• The move follows earlier closures in 2023 and reflects a broader strategy to prioritize delivery over brick‑and‑mortar Fresh stores.
• Amazon previously used its “Just Walk Out” cashierless tech in Fresh stores; the company stopped using that system in US Fresh stores in 2024 amid concerns about cost, accuracy and privacy.

Implications

This pivot highlights Amazon’s bet that convenience and rapid delivery can outcompete traditional grocery shopping for many customers. The change may affect jobs at affected locations, though Amazon has said it will seek to redeploy staff where possible. For consumers, the shift means greater emphasis on same‑day delivery and online ordering for fresh groceries.

Sources & further reading

• The Independent — Amazon Fresh closures in the UK
• Grocery Dive — Amazon’s grocery strategy and Whole Foods conversions
• CBS News — Amazon expands same‑day grocery delivery
• Axios — “Just Walk Out” and cashierless tech background

Updated: includes note about Amazon stopping “Just Walk Out” in US Fresh stores.

What do you think — will same‑day delivery replace your local grocery trip? Share your thoughts below.