Amazon announced on Tuesday that it would close all Go and Fresh locations within days as the company shifts its focus to other investments, including enhanced food delivery services and the expansion of the Whole Foods Market brand in the coming years.
Why are Amazon’s Go and Fresh locations closing?
The company said most Go and Fresh stores would convert into Whole Foods Market locations. Amazon plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods Market stores in the coming years, including expanded Daily Shop locations, and will roll out additional delivery options nationwide in 2026, according to a news release.
“Customers can continue to shop Amazon Fresh online in available areas for fast and convenient delivery. We’re grateful to our team members for their many contributions over the years and are working whenever possible to help them find roles elsewhere in Amazon, including across our vast operations network, as we make this transition,” Amazon said.
According to the company, focusing on the physical shopping experience is all done with the customers in mind.
Amazon executive details company’s response to 16,000 job cuts
The move follows comments from Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, who reiterated an October announcement that the company would cut 16,000 corporate jobs as part of efforts “to strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership and removing bureaucracy,” according to a notice updated Wednesday.
Galetti said the company would work with those whose jobs would be affected by providing more than 90 days to find a new role internally (with varying timelines internationally based on local and country requirements), as well as “transitional support, severance pay, outplacement services, health insurance benefits (as applicable), and more,” per the release.
“While we’re making these changes, we’ll also continue hiring and investing in strategic areas and functions that are critical to our future. We’re still in the early stages of building every one of our businesses and there’s significant opportunity ahead,” Galetti noted.
When will Amazon’s Go and Fresh locations close?
Amazon‘s Go and Fresh locations will remain open until Sunday, except for California locations, which will remain open longer due to state requirements, according to The Associated Press.
Since acquiring Whole Foods Market in 2017, Amazon has reported that its investment in the brand has led to a 40% increase in customer sales and has expanded to more than 550 locations nationwide. The new locations will be a direct response to rising customer demand.
“We will also continue inventing on behalf of customers to develop a mass physical store format that brings customers distinctive selection, value, and convenience,” the company said.