Amazon Fresh checkout-free c-store opens in Croydon following Dalston closure

By Tony Corbin in Industry News 24th January 2023

Following the news that Amazon Fresh had closed its Dalston, London location at the weekend, less than 18 months after opening it, a new checkout-free Amazon Fresh c-store opened today (24 January) in Croydon, London.

The new store at Unit 1, Ruskin Square is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days a week.

The store uses the company’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology, giving customers the option of shopping without needing to visit a checkout. They can simply walk out through a barrier with their items which are detected by a selection of cameras and sensors and the bill is subsequently charged to the customer’s Amazon account once they have left.

In addition to a convenience grocery store offering, customers can also pick up items purchased on Amazon.co.uk at an Amazon Hub and return items without needing to package the product or print a shipping label.

Contrary to speculation, following reports of disappointing sales last August, Amazon said it remains committed to Amazon Fresh and plans to open two more stores in the Greater London area soon.

Amazon opened its first UK checkout-free store in March 2021, in Ealing, west London, followed by another 18, mainly in the capital.