In an attempt to step up its game with competitors such as Walmart, DoorDash, and Instacart, Amazon announced that it will now offer same-day delivery of perishable grocery items in more than 1,000 cities throughout the United States. The e-commerce goliath also plans to roll this service out to more than 2,300 areas in the country by the end of 2025.
“Thousands of fresh grocery items are now available alongside millions of everyday Amazon.com products—all delivered within hours,” the statement reads.
Customers now have the option to order from thousands of grocery items, including produce, dairy, meat, seafood, and baked and frozen foods, and receive them the same day.
According to the statement, consumers can order everything from milk to mystery novels and electronics, check out using just one cart, and get everything delivered within hours. Same-day delivery is free for orders of more than $25 for Amazon Prime members and is also available to those without a Prime membership for a flat fee of $12.99.
“Amazon is also looking for ways to make grocery shopping simpler, faster, and more affordable for our customers, and this new service makes grocery shopping a quick and easy experience,” the statement reads.
Using specialized temperature-controlled fulfillment warehouses, the company can ensure fresh delivery of perishable grocery items, it stated. It also stated that every item undergoes a six-point quality check on arrival before leaving for delivery. All temperature-sensitive items are delivered in insulated, recyclable bags.
Test markets for perishable grocery delivery started in Phoenix; Orlando, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri. Amazon stated that items such as strawberries, Honeycrisp apples, limes, and avocados rank among the top 10 same-day delivery products.
Customers can simply log on to Amazon.com and visit the Same-Day Store, then choose the Food and Grocery category, along with many other selections offering same-day delivery.
The firm’s research also found that 28 percent of U.S. adults buy groceries online at least once per month. On average, they spend as much as 29.4 percent of their grocery budgets online. In 2024, the report shows, U.S. consumers spent $58.9 billion on groceries from Walmart alone.
Seventy-seven percent of consumers listed time saving as the top reason for online grocery shopping, and 91 percent said they are open to trying new products when shopping online. The top three food items purchased were nonperishable foods, soft drinks, and fresh food.
Capital One’s statistics indicate that by 2029, more than 180 million Americans will buy their groceries online, with 18- to 34-year-olds making up the largest group of these shoppers.
