Amazon closes its first checkoutless store after two years
The store was permanently shuttered on Sunday, along with the closure of two other Amazon Fresh stores in Wandsworth and East Sheen
Amazon’s first Amazon Fresh store in the UK has closed, having opened just over two years ago.
The till-less store opened in Ealing Broadway in March 2021 and was the retailer’s first store of its kind to open outside of the US.
The store was permanently shuttered on Sunday (23 July), along with the closure of two other Amazon Fresh stores in Wandsworth and East Sheen.
Following these closures, the group will continue to operate 15 Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, and plans to open more sites.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “Our goal is to build a best-in-class grocery shopping experience where Amazon is the first choice for selection, value, and convenience, including in the UK. As part of that, 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—this year, we will open new Amazon Fresh stores to better serve customers in the greater London area. 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.”
Amazon Fresh stores rely on technology to guide customers’ shopping experiences, with purchases noted via ceiling cameras and shelf weight sensors.
A cashless store, consumers gain access to the property via a smartphone QR code, with their registered credit card then being billed as they leave the shop.