Amazon is closing certain Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores, suggesting that grocery hasn't been as fruitful as it hoped

• Amazon said Thursday that it will close certain Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores.
• It also said it would cut jobs across this area of the business.
• Critics say the focus on tech rather than retail experience in stores is putting off shoppers.

Amazon said Thursday that it plans to close a number of Amazon Fresh grocery and Amazon Go convenience stores and pause new openings. 

The announcement, which was made during its fourth-quarter earnings call, came just weeks after the e-commerce giant said it will cut 18,000 jobs in certain areas of the business.