Amazon closes three checkout-free Fresh stores in UK capital
Amazon has shut three ‘contactless’ grocery stores in London including its first which only opened two years ago.
The Amazon Fresh stores in Wandsworth and East Sheen both closed this month along with the Ealing outlet, which was the first in the UK to open in March 2021.
Visitors to Amazon Fresh shops scan a smartphone app when they enter and are then automatically billed for the items they pick up as they depart, without having to visit a till.
The opening of the stores was hailed as a huge moment for the industry at the time, but campaigners raised privacy concerns about how they operate.
Amazon said the trio were shut as part of ‘optimisation decisions’ about its ‘portfolio of stores’, adding that it still plans to open new stores in London later this year. Work is already under way on the new stores which will be located in Moorgate and Liverpool Street both in the heart of the City.
The online retailer still boasts 17 Fresh outlets in the city – however this is a far cry from the ambitious 100-store-roll-out which were originally planned for the UK.
A spokesperson for Amazon said: “Like any physical retailer, we periodically assess our portfolio of stores and make optimization decisions along the way.
“While we decided to close three Amazon Fresh stores, it doesn’t mean we won’t grow. We are committed to our investment in grocery, and as we grow we’ll continue to learn which locations and features resonate most with customers.”
