Amazon hints at German fresh grocery business

The head of Amazon.com Inc in Germany said that it has no intention of bowing to pressure from strik…

The head of Amazon.com Inc in Germany said that it has no intention of bowing to pressure from striking workers, while also strongly hinting at an expansion into the fresh grocery business.

Trade union Verdi has staged a series of strikes this year in a dispute over pay and conditions at distribution centers in Leipzig and Bad Hersfeld. Last Monday, the union said about 1,000 employees walked out, almost a fifth of the regular workforce there.

Amazon said less than 800 staff had joined the strike, and in an interview with Reuters, Amazon Germany CEO Ralf Kleber said that the issue of snowfall is more worrying for him than workers striking.