Amazon is set to close its UK-based online store Book Depository at the end of April.

The closure is part of the tech giant’s bid to cut costs across the business, following a raft of job cuts globally including 18,000 announced in January and 9,000 announced in March.

The Gloucester-based online bookshop was founded in 2004 by former Amazon employee Andrew Crawford and his business partner Stuart Felton.

The business was acquired by Amazon in 2011 and has offices in London, Gloucester, Madrid, Cape Town and Chennai, along with fulfilment centres in the UK and Australia.

Book Depository told customers in a message on its website: “We are sorry to let you know that Book Depository will be closing on 26 April 2023.

“You can still place orders until midday on 26 April and we will continue to deliver your purchases and provide support for any order issues until 23 June.

“From all of us at Book Depository we want to say thank you. Delivering your favourite reads to you since 2007 has been a pleasure.”

It is unknown how many jobs will be lost through the closure. 

The cost-saving initiative by Amazon has also meant other changes to its book business, including the decision to stop selling magazine and newspaper subscriptions on its Kindle ebook devices.