URGENT UPDATE: Amazon is set to lay off 3,339 employees in Southern California, beginning on April 28, as the company shifts its grocery strategy. This decision follows the recent announcement to close its Fresh and Amazon Go stores, affecting numerous locations across the region.
The layoffs will commence after the public-facing operations at the Fresh stores are terminated on March 13, according to a letter filed by Vani Appukkutty, a senior HR manager at Amazon. The layoffs will impact employees in several counties: 738 jobs in Orange County, 1,569 jobs in Los Angeles County, 332 jobs in Riverside County, 379 jobs in San Bernardino County, 182 jobs in San Diego County, and 139 jobs in Ventura County.
In a blog post on January 27, Amazon confirmed its plans to shutter its five-year-old Fresh-branded grocery stores and automated Go markets, citing the need for a “truly distinctive customer experience” and a viable economic model for large-scale expansion. The company plans to convert some Fresh store locations into Whole Foods Markets.
The layoffs are part of a broader trend as Amazon has been downsizing its workforce globally. Last week, the tech giant announced a cut of around 16,000 corporate positions, marking its largest layoffs in the last three months. This follows a significant reduction of 27,000 jobs earlier in 2023, as the company adapts its operational strategies, including the use of generative artificial intelligence.
In addition to the upcoming layoffs, Amazon had previously cut 760 jobs in Southern California in January as part of earlier workforce adjustments. The impact of these job cuts is felt deeply within the community, as many employees facing termination include cashiers, managers, and food production associates.
Amazon has stated that it will assist affected employees in finding new roles within the company, potentially at Whole Foods or within its logistics network. However, specific details on which Fresh stores will transition to Whole Foods remain unclear.
As Amazon navigates these significant changes, the company’s workforce continues to shrink in response to evolving market conditions. The next steps for affected employees and the broader implications for the grocery landscape in Southern California remain to be seen.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
