7 months ago
Amazon Closes Physical Stores
Amazon is closing all its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores.
The company says it wants to focus more on delivering groceries to people's homes and on its Whole Foods Market stores.
Some of the closing stores might become Whole Foods Market stores.
Amazon will keep delivering groceries to many cities and towns.
They are also planning to open a new big store called a 'supercenter' and are testing a new store format called Amazon Grocery.
Amazon started Amazon Go in 2018, where people could just take items and walk out without checking out.
They learned a lot from these stores and will use that knowledge in other places.
Amazon's stock was up 2% to around $243 in early afternoon trading, while the S&P 500 was up 0.5%.
The stock is up about 5.5% this year and up 2.2% over the past 12 months.
Walmart’s stock was down 0.5% in afternoon trading, while Instacart was down nearly 6%.
Amazon is closing all 60 Amazon Fresh and 15 Amazon Go stores.
Some locations will be converted into Whole Foods Market stores.
Amazon will focus on grocery delivery and expanding Whole Foods Market.
The last day of operation for most stores is Feb. 1, with California locations staying open longer.
Amazon plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods Market stores in the next few years.
- Who
- Amazon
- What
- Closing Amazon Go and Fresh stores, focusing on grocery delivery and Whole Foods Market
- Where
- United States
- When
- Last day of operation is Feb. 1 (except California)
- Why
- To refocus on grocery delivery, Whole Foods Market, and a new 'supersized' store concept
Key facts
- Amazon Fresh Stores
- 60
- Amazon Go Stores
- 15
- Whole Foods Market Locations
- 550+
- New Whole Foods Market Stores
- 100+
- Grocery Delivery Cities
- 5,000
- Last Day of Operation
- Feb. 1 (except California)
- Amazon's Grocery Sales
- More than $150 billion
- Amazon's Grocery Customers
- More than 150 million
- Amazon's Market Share
- Estimated 3%
- Kroger's Market Share
- About 8.5%
- Costco's Market Share
- About 8.4%
- Publix's Market Share
- 4.1%
- Walmart's Market Share
- 20%
- Amazon's Stock
- Up 2% to around $243
- Walmart's Stock
- Down 0.5%
- Instacart's Stock
- Down nearly 6%
Timeline
Amazon halts UK Fresh store expansion, triggers cost cuts.
Then, all UK Fresh stores shuttered in '25, signaling online shift.
Finally, global Go and Fresh stores close in '26, focusing on delivery, Whole Foods.
Quotes
Errol Schweizer
Former head of grocery at Whole Foods and author of the Substack 'The Checkout'
“They’re admitting that they don’t get (brick-and-mortar) retail.”
livemint.com
“I don’t think they understand the human aspect of it.”
livemint.com
Jeff Wilke
Amazon’s CEO of Worldwide Consumer at the time of the Whole Foods acquisition
“As I was sitting this morning, eating breakfast, watching the sun rise over this beautiful city—by the way, quinoa, blueberry, and some other vegetables…”
livemint.com
John Mackey
Whole Foods Chief Executive Officer at the time of the Amazon acquisition
“Those aren’t vegetables. That’s okay. We’re learning.”
livemint.com
Sources
Amazon turns over a new leaf in physical stores. It’s about grocery delivery.
Amazon to shut Go and Fresh physical stores in US, expand online grocery delivery
Amazon to shut Amazon Go and Fresh stores, refocus on grocery delivery, Whole Foods Market
Amazon Still Doesn’t Understand Brick-and-Mortar Retail
