Amazon is closing its Amazon Go c-stores and Amazon Fresh brick-and-mortar grocery stores and consolidating its physical strategy under the Whole Foods brand.
The company shared that it is doubling down on online grocery delivery and Whole Foods Market expansion to reach more customers, noting that it will close Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh and convert certain locations to Whole Foods Market stores.
Amazon said it plans to open 100-plus new Whole Foods Market stores over the next few years, including expansion of Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, “providing a broad selection of natural and organic groceries at a great value to customers.”
The company currently offers grocery delivery in more than 5,000 U.S. cities and same-day delivery. “Based on strong customer feedback, we plan to expand Same-Day Delivery of fresh groceries to many more communities in 2026,” said Amazon.
“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,” the company said.
“We will also continue inventing on behalf of customers to develop a mass physical store format that brings customers distinctive selection, value, and convenience. Over the coming years, we plan to introduce new store concepts that we think customers will be excited about. For example, we are exploring a new supercenter physical retail concept designed for customers to conveniently shop Amazon’s broad selection and low prices across fresh groceries, household essentials and general merchandise. Through it all, our goal remains: to make grocery shopping easier, faster and more affordable for customers,” noted Amazon.
Just Walk Out of the Ballpark
In 2022, Amazon brought its Just Walk Out and Amazon One frictionless technologies to T-Mobile Park for the first time at a Major League Baseball ballpark. NACS visited the venue’s Walk-Off Market, which is designed to eliminate lines and allow fans to enjoy baseball.
The Walk-Off Market featured a wide selection of beer, Northwest wines and ready-to-drink cocktails. The store also featured a variety of Coca-Cola products, grab-and-go snacks, hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels and Mariners-branded merchandise.