Amazon is removing its infamous ‘Just Walk Out’ tech from all of its Fresh grocery stores in the US.
Tony Hoggett, the senior vice president of the online giant’s grocery stores, told The Information that it will now prioritise smart trolley technology across US rather than just walk out equipment, although the move will not affect its UK outlets.
Since launching in 2016, the system has allowed shoppers to grab items and leave without paying at the checkout, with customers instead charged through their Amazon accounts.
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The company opened its first checkout-free supermarket in London, Ealing Broadway back in 2021 as part of its push into physical stores but just a year later, it paused a roll-out of its UK cashierless grocery stores.
In 2023 it closed the Ealing Broadway branch along with two other Amazon Fresh stores, in Wandsworth and East Sheen after an assessment of its portfolio of stores although it said new outlets were planned at the time.
Amazon boss Andy Jassy said the company was “not going to expand the physical Fresh stores” until it had established how it could provide a “different offering”.
Since launching the tech, fellow businesses have dipped their toes into checkout-free shopping including Tesco, WHSmith and Starbucks.
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