All 19 Fresh stores are earmarked for closure, with five converting into Whole Foods Market stores, a brand that Amazon bought in 2017. The first Amazon Fresh store opened in 2021 in Ealing, West London. Amazon UK said in a statement: “We’ve made the difficult decision to launch a consultation with employees regarding the proposed closure of our Amazon Fresh UK stores, following a thorough evaluation of business operations and the very substantial growth opportunities in online delivery. Next year, it plans to introduce perishable groceries including fresh produce, dairy, meat and seafood on to Amazon.co.uk, with same-day delivery. With the proposed addition of the five Whole Foods Market stores and the opening of a Whole Foods Market in Chelsea, west London earlier this year, and an additional store in Greater London by the end of 2026, Amazon will have 12 Whole Foods Market stores in the UK.