U.S. online retailer Amazon on Monday said that it would shut down its wholesale distribution business in India as it moved to focus more on its core retail business.

Amazon Distribution, its wholesale e-commerce website available to small neighbourhood stores in Bengaluru, Mysore and Hubli, was designed to help small stores, pharmacies and department stores in India secure inventory from the firm.

“We don’t take these decisions lightly. We are discontinuing this programme in a phased manner to take care of current customers and partners,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.

The exit will result in the layoffs of hundreds of workers. 

(dpa/NAN)