E-commerce giant Amazon.com is shifting its grocery strategy focus toward Whole Foods Market and delivery services, leading to the closure of four additional Fresh supermarkets in Southern California.
Amazon.com confirmed that the closures will be completed within the coming weeks. In recent months, the company had already shuttered four other U.S. locations in Washington, Virginia, New York, and the Los Angeles suburbs.
Amazon.com spokesperson Griffin Buch stated in a statement: "Store performance varies across locations, and after evaluation, we've decided to close these Amazon Fresh stores. We are working closely with affected employees to help them find new positions within Amazon.com wherever possible."
Internal sources revealed that employees at a Fresh store in La Verne, California, were notified Wednesday to attend an all-hands meeting. According to an insider who requested anonymity due to confidential details, employees learned during the meeting that the store would close in mid-November and that they would receive severance packages.
The other three stores planned for closure are located in Mission Viejo, La Habra, and Whittier.
Last week, Amazon.com announced plans to close 14 Fresh grocery stores in the UK while converting five other local Fresh locations into Whole Foods Market stores.
Amazon.com stated that the company regularly evaluates its store portfolio, with assessments potentially leading to store openings, reopenings, relocations, or closures.
Currently in the United States, the company still operates more than 60 Fresh supermarkets. Last year, Amazon.com removed its "Just Walk Out" cashierless technology from Fresh stores while also scaling back its Go series of cashierless convenience stores.
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