Amazon To Purchase Whole Foods For $13.7 Billion (Is This The Start Of Amazon’s Checkout-Free Grocery Stores?)

Amazon has announced they will acquire Whole Foods Market for $42 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $13.7 billion, including Whole Foods Market’s net debt.

Whole Foods Market will continue to operate stores under the Whole Foods Market brand and source from trusted vendors and partners around the world. John Mackey will remain as CEO of Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market’s headquarters will stay in Austin, Texas.

Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by Whole Foods Market’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect to close the transaction during the second half of 2017.

So Amazon is making a move into the brick and mortar grocery stores, and will probably help out its grocery delivery Amazon Fresh, but remember that You Tube clip that was released at the end of 2016 of an automated Amazon grocery store? So, is this the start of Amazon Go Amazon’s checkout-free grocery stores??