This National Grocery Chain Is Closing Stores

In an attempt to fine-tune its brick-and-mortar retail strategy, parent company Amazon has decided to close six Whole Foods Markets in four states. The move comes just two months after the company shut down dozens of bookstores and gift shops around the country to narrow its retail efforts toward the grocery sector.

The Whole Foods locations set to close in are in Montgomery and Mobile, Ala., Tarzana, Calif., Brookline, Mass., and in both the Englewood and DePaul neighborhoods of Chicago, Ill. Five of the stores are slated to close on May 6, with the Englewood location to close shortly after.

"As we continue to position Whole Foods Market for long-term success, we regularly evaluate the performance and growth potential of each of our stores, and we have made the difficult decision to close six stores," the Whole Foods spokesperson told Bloomberg. "We are supporting impacted team members through this transition and expect that all interested, eligible team members will find positions at our other locations."

While some Whole Foods Market locations may be closing, the company recently added new Amazon Grocery stores in areas it hopes will be more profitable. Six have opened this year, including two in San Francisco, Calif., one in Washington D.C., one in Chicago, Ill., and one in Towson, Md.

Austin-based-Whole Foods is known for selling organic and all-natural products while banning ban all artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in the store. While slightly more costly than a typical grocery store, Whole Foods Market doesn't only look at income demographics when seeking new locations. Typically, it seeks mixed retail/residential development locations based on the area's ability to attract pedestrians.

There are currently 514 Whole Foods Market locations in the U.S. Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion but has been working on growing its other two grocery brands, Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh while implementing its Amazon One contactless payment system across many of its retail stores. The retailer recently added "Just Walk Out" technology to a Washington, D.C. Whole Foods, which allows customers to skip the cash register and leave with their groceries to their Amazon account.

The company has also been focused on opening new Amazon Fresh grocery stores. The 30th Amazon Fresh will open in Murrieta, Calif. on May 5, which will be followed shortly by new locations in California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington state, New Jersey, and the first location in New York.

Before your next grocery store run, be sure to check out why These Grocery Items Sold at Walmart, Wegmans, H-E-B, and Amazon Are Being Pulled From Shelves.