Subscribe Login
Technology

Amazon CEO Doubles Down On Grocery Store Business: Reports

By Donna Ahern
Amazon CEO Doubles Down On Grocery Store Business: Reports

Amazon.com Inc Andy Jassy, chief executive has vowed to double down on the e-commerce giant's struggling grocery store business, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Jassy blamed a lack of normalcy during the pandemic for a series of stumbles and said the company was ready to "go big" on bricks-and-mortar stores, the report added.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Paused Expansion

The company has paused expansion of its Fresh supermarkets and cashier-less convenience stores until it finds the right recipe for success, Jassy said, in a rare appearance on the company's quarterly results call earlier this month.

Jassy's remarks show how Amazon, which just a year ago said it would close its bookstores to focus on grocery, has yet to dominate brick-and-mortar retail since its closely watched acquisition of Whole Foods Market in 2017.

Some Store Closures 

For the time being, the company has closed some grocery shops and impaired certain assets.

It took a $720 million charge from such actions in the fourth quarter, its chief financial officer said earlier this month.

Staff Layoffs 

Last month Amazon.com Inc's layoffs will now increase to more than 18,000 roles as part of a workforce reduction it previously disclosed, chief executive Andy Jassy said in a public staff note

The cuts amount to 6% of Amazon's roughly 300,000-person corporate workforce and represent a swift turn for a retailer that recently doubled its base pay ceiling to compete more aggressively for talent.

News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more technology stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.

Stay Connected With Our Weekly Newsletter

Processing your request...

Thanks! please check your email to confirm your subscription.

Stay connected with our weekly newsletter
Enjoy the most important stories from the world of Irish grocery retail, curated for you by our team of experts every week.
Stay connected with our weekly newsletter
Stay connected with our weekly newsletter
Enjoy the most important stories from the world of Irish grocery retail, curated for you by our team of experts every week.
Stay connected with our weekly newsletter