Amazon UK to expand grocery range as supermarkets look on warily

Online retailer has announced it is adding thousands more products to its Pantry service, as big four struggle with changing shopping habits

Amazon is preparing to crank up the pressure on Britain's struggling supermarkets by dramatically expanding the range of grocery products it sells. Christopher North, the UK boss of the online retailer, has said it plans to expand its Pantry service rapidly in the new year.

The news that Amazon is to ramp up its grocery delivery business will come as a blow to the "big four" supermarket chains - Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons - which are already under pressure as a result of changing shopping habits. Large grocers have been battling falling sales as households abandon the weekly shop in favour of discount supermarkets, regular local top-up shopping and online ordering.