Amazon is extending its grocery delivery and free pickup services to all customers in U.S. cities or towns where Amazon Fresh grocery stores are available, not just limited to Prime members, according to a press release on Thursday (Nov. 9). The move aims to simplify the grocery shopping experience for all customers, whether in-store or online.
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GLOAmazon is extending its grocery delivery and free pickup services to all customers in U.S. cities or towns where Amazon Fresh grocery stores are available, not just limited to Prime members, according to a press release on Thursday (Nov. 9). The move aims to simplify the grocery shopping experience for all customers, whether in-store or online.
In addition, Amazon announced that customers can now receive deliveries from various local grocery and specialty retailers featured on Amazon.com, including Bristol Farms, Cardenas Markets, Pet Food Express, Weis Markets, and Save Mart.
The company plans to expand its grocery delivery and free pickup options to non-Prime member customers, including pickups and delivery from Whole Foods Market, in the near future. The comprehensive rollout is expected to cover more than 3,500 cities and towns across the U.S., providing access to two-hour grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market.
This announcement follows Amazon’s decision, just over a month ago, to lower the free grocery delivery threshold for Prime members to $100, down from the previous $150 minimum imposed earlier this year. Amazon has been striving to boost its grocery sales, an area where Walmart currently holds a substantial lead. Walmart’s Walmart+ members enjoy free grocery delivery for orders over $35, while non-members pay between $7.95 and $9.95.
This strategic move by major retailers reflects the ongoing challenge of making eGrocery profitable while building customer loyalty and fending off competition. The adjustment in Amazon’s delivery options is part of a broader overhaul of its grocery operations, involving updated stores and the integration of its eCommerce grocery offerings (Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and its main website) into a unified online shopping cart, a plan hinted at earlier in the year.
