Amazon has opened a second till-free “Fresh” store in the UK, just a few days after the first one. In doing so, the company is strengthening its ambitions to make its mark on British food retail.
Turning point
Just days after opening its first fill-free store outside the United States, Amazon has opened a second Amazon Fresh in Wembley Park. Similarly to the Ealing store, the new supermarket has a surface area of around 230 sq. metres and is equipped with the Just Walk Out technology, writes Charged Retail.
There has long been speculation in the UK about Amazon’s entry into the British market. But, the speed at which the American web giant is now opening stores has surprised many observers. In a statement, Amazon announced that it is looking forward “to opening more stores in the greater London area in the future”. The company thus seems to indicate that the next supermarkets will not take long to arrive.
Analysts consider the current developments as a potential tipping point for the British supermarket business. They believe that the biggest UK players will soon be challenged by the e-commerce giant. “We don’t think Amazon is engaging in all this guff because it wants to be a marginal player in UK grocery,” said retail analyst Clive Black of Shore Capital. Blake is also convinced that Amazon will take over a major British supermarket chain in the next few years.
