*Amazon is moving to shut down all Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores, signaling a significant change in how the company approaches grocery retail.
According to NBC News, the decision reflects a broader shift toward online grocery delivery and an expanded reliance on Whole Foods Market rather than standalone Amazon-branded stores. The closures will impact dozens of locations nationwide.
The retailer currently operates 57 Amazon Fresh stores and 15 Amazon Go locations, all of which are slated to cease operations. Most stores are expected to close by Feb. 1, though locations in California will continue operating for a longer period due to state-specific regulations. Amazon also said select locations may be repurposed into Whole Foods Market stores in the future.
Amazon acknowledged that its branded grocery stores did not reach the scale it had envisioned. “While we’ve seen encouraging signals in our Amazon-branded physical grocery stores, we haven’t yet created a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion,” the company said. Despite the store shutdowns, Amazon Fresh will remain available online in supported markets.
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The closures come as Amazon continues to invest heavily in Whole Foods Market. Since purchasing the grocer in 2017, Amazon said Whole Foods has grown by more than 40% in sales and now operates over 550 locations. The company plans to open more than 100 additional Whole Foods stores in the coming years, reinforcing its long-term commitment to that brand.
Grocery delivery is becoming an increasingly central part of Amazon’s strategy. The company currently delivers groceries to roughly 5,000 cities and towns across the U.S., with same-day delivery available in thousands of those areas.
Although Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores are closing, the company stressed it is still exploring physical retail options. Amazon recently announced plans for a future “supercenter” concept designed to carry groceries, home goods, and everyday products, though no timeline has been shared.
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