Amazon announced earlier this week that it plans to offer 30-minute grocery delivery to shoppers and is testing the program in parts of Seattle and Philadelphia. The fast delivery will be enabled by facilities designed for efficient order fulfillment near its customer base.
Prime members will be offered discount delivery fees starting at $3.99 per order with a basket fee of $1.99 applied to orders under $15. According to Amazon, shoppers will be able to choose from a wide selection of items, including eggs, milk, fresh produce, and over-the-counter medicines.
Amazon has been stepping up its grocery delivery business. In August, the company announced that customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns can order fresh groceries with same-day delivery. Amazon plans to expand the service to over 2,000 U.S. cities and towns by the end of the year.
“It’s really changing the trajectory and the size of our grocery business,” said Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy. “I also believe that the tradition of the weekly grocery stock-up is changing, and I think we’re a big part of that.”
