Amazon moves to close Amazon Fresh grocery stores in UK after shuttering some U.S. locations earlier this year

Core Insights - Amazon is proposing to close all Amazon Fresh locations in the United Kingdom, which currently consists of 19 stores, as part of a business evaluation and to focus on online delivery growth opportunities [3][5] - The company plans to convert five of the Amazon Fresh locations into Whole Foods stores, while still maintaining its grocery delivery service in the UK [6][5] - This move follows previous closures of Amazon Fresh stores in the United States, with at least three locations shuttered earlier in 2025 [7][8] Company Strategy - Amazon's spokesperson emphasized the commitment to Amazon Fresh and the broader grocery strategy, indicating a continuous refinement of store portfolios based on customer preferences [8] - The proposed closures are part of a larger trend affecting brick-and-mortar retailers, which are facing challenges such as rising operating costs and changing consumer behavior [12] Market Impact - Following the announcement of the proposed closures, Amazon's stock experienced a decline of approximately 2.2% in morning trading [9] - Despite the closures, Amazon still operates over 60 Fresh locations in the United States and more than 500 Whole Foods Markets globally [10]