Amazon is making strategic changes to its UK operations, announcing the closure of its first-ever order fulfillment center in Milton Keynes. The facility, which opened in 1998, will soon cease operations as part of the company's broader restructuring efforts.
This move does not signal a retreat from the UK market but rather a calculated shift toward modernization and expansion. Amazon is actively working with the 590 affected employees to facilitate smooth transitions, offering them opportunities to relocate to other operational sites or to the new £500 million fulfillment center in Northampton, set to open in May.
Notably, another Amazon facility in Milton Keynes—a sorting center employing 1,100 workers—will remain operational. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to the UK market with an ambitious £4 billion investment plan over the next three years, which includes the construction of four new fulfillment centers.
Further solidifying its presence, Amazon plans to build two additional large warehouses in the East Midlands region, expected to be operational by 2027. These developments underscore the e-commerce giant's long-term strategy to enhance its logistics network and maintain dominance in the UK retail sector.