Instacart said earlier this month that it will "wind down" its nearly five-year old partnership with Whole Foods. Instacart plans to lay off 243 of its 1,415 Whole Foods personal shoppers. However, the company said it expects to place more than 75% of its affected personal shoppers in similar jobs at other retailers in their area.
Industry experts had anticipated this move ever since Amazon purchased Whole Foods in 2017. As of June 2018, all Whole Foods stores in the U.S. were connected to Amazon Prime, and Prime Now delivery is currently available at Whole Foods stores in 63 cities. In addition, Prime Now Pickup is offered at stores in 22 markets.
Despite losing the Whole Foods account, Instacart continues to expand, and currently works with more than 300 retailers. The click-and-collect Instacart Pickup program is expected to rollout soon to nearly 200 grocery stores in 25 metro markets.
Showing posts with label Amazon Prime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazon Prime. Show all posts
Friday, December 28, 2018
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Amazon launches 30-minute curbside pickup at Whole Foods
Amazon announced earlier this month that it has launched a new curbside pickup service for Amazon Prime members at select Whole Foods stores. The service is currently available in Sacramento, CA and Virginia Beach, VA, and Amazon plans to expand it to other cities later this year.
Through the service, customers can place orders via Amazon's Prime Now app and have their groceries loaded into their car when they arrive at Whole Foods. Pick-up in an hour is free for orders of $35 or more, and $1.99 on orders less than $35. A 30-minute window is available for $4.99 with no minimum order.
Amazon also announced that in markets served by Prime Now, Prime customers can order from Whole Foods using Amazon Echo smart speakers and have the items delivered within two hours.
Through the service, customers can place orders via Amazon's Prime Now app and have their groceries loaded into their car when they arrive at Whole Foods. Pick-up in an hour is free for orders of $35 or more, and $1.99 on orders less than $35. A 30-minute window is available for $4.99 with no minimum order.
Amazon also announced that in markets served by Prime Now, Prime customers can order from Whole Foods using Amazon Echo smart speakers and have the items delivered within two hours.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Amazon brings Whole Foods into the mix for Prime Day
Amazon announced earlier this week that it plans to offer Prime customers $10 to spend on Amazon for Prime Day when they make a purchase of $10 or more at Whole Foods between July 11 and 17. Prime Day begins at 3:00 pm on July 16 and runs through July 17.
Here's how it works. Once a Prime member gathers up at least $10 worth of Whole Foods products, the member must then scan her Prime code in the Whole Foods or Amazon app at checkout. A $10 credit will then be applied to her Amazon account for use on Prime Day. A linked phone number can also be provided at checkout in lieu of the Whole Foods or Amazon app.
Whole Foods is involved in other Prime Day offers as well, including discounts on grocery delivery through Prime Now, and double rewards for eligible Prime members when they use their Prime Rewards Visa card.
Certain Prime member savings and benefits became available at all U.S. Whole Foods locations in late June.
Here's how it works. Once a Prime member gathers up at least $10 worth of Whole Foods products, the member must then scan her Prime code in the Whole Foods or Amazon app at checkout. A $10 credit will then be applied to her Amazon account for use on Prime Day. A linked phone number can also be provided at checkout in lieu of the Whole Foods or Amazon app.
Whole Foods is involved in other Prime Day offers as well, including discounts on grocery delivery through Prime Now, and double rewards for eligible Prime members when they use their Prime Rewards Visa card.
Certain Prime member savings and benefits became available at all U.S. Whole Foods locations in late June.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Amazon adding Prime perks at Whole Foods
After several weeks of speculation, the news broker earlier this month that Amazon is planning new Whole Foods benefits for its Prime members. According to a CNBC report, "the new perks will bring the might of Amazon's membership program to the grocery industry, folding Whole Foods into a network other grocers are struggling to compete with."
The report also stated that about 75 percent of Whole Foods shoppers are Amazon Prime members, but less than 20 percent of Amazon Prime members shop at Whole Foods.
Sources told CNBC that Whole Foods will begin offering Prime members an additional 10 percent off of already discounted products. The discount would be in addition to perks that have already been rolled out, including free delivery of Whole Foods products to Prime members in certain locations, 5 percent cash back when members use the Prime Visa rewards card at Whole Foods stores, and other exclusive member deals.
The news of these new perks has come at nearly the same time Amazon announced a $20 annual fee increase for Prime membership, and a couple weeks after Whole Foods announced the end of its loyalty program.
For food retailers, the new perks turn Whole Foods into a more formidable competitor, expanding its reach well beyond its 400 store footprint and combating the grocer's major weakness - high prices.
The report also stated that about 75 percent of Whole Foods shoppers are Amazon Prime members, but less than 20 percent of Amazon Prime members shop at Whole Foods.
Sources told CNBC that Whole Foods will begin offering Prime members an additional 10 percent off of already discounted products. The discount would be in addition to perks that have already been rolled out, including free delivery of Whole Foods products to Prime members in certain locations, 5 percent cash back when members use the Prime Visa rewards card at Whole Foods stores, and other exclusive member deals.
The news of these new perks has come at nearly the same time Amazon announced a $20 annual fee increase for Prime membership, and a couple weeks after Whole Foods announced the end of its loyalty program.
For food retailers, the new perks turn Whole Foods into a more formidable competitor, expanding its reach well beyond its 400 store footprint and combating the grocer's major weakness - high prices.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Amazon considering larger Whole Foods stores to aid storage and distribution efforts
A recent report stated that Amazon "is betting on its online delivery business by investing in bigger Whole Foods Market locations across the U.S."
These larger Whole Foods stores (50,000 - 80,000 SF, according to a Bloomberg report) would include storage facilities that could hold electronics, books and fitness gear from Amazon.com. It's unclear at this time whether the extra space would be used solely as a distribution center, or whether customers would be allowed to shop there. What is clear is that the move is meant to consolidate business operations and provide for faster delivery to customers.
Markets with large numbers of Amazon Prime subscribers are the prime targets for the larger Whole Foods stores.
Some reports have stated that Amazon may be interested in Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores, which could be used for Amazon showrooms or be used as distribution centers, but the list of bidders for the initial group of soon-to-be-vacant stores did not include Amazon.
These larger Whole Foods stores (50,000 - 80,000 SF, according to a Bloomberg report) would include storage facilities that could hold electronics, books and fitness gear from Amazon.com. It's unclear at this time whether the extra space would be used solely as a distribution center, or whether customers would be allowed to shop there. What is clear is that the move is meant to consolidate business operations and provide for faster delivery to customers.
Markets with large numbers of Amazon Prime subscribers are the prime targets for the larger Whole Foods stores.
Some reports have stated that Amazon may be interested in Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores, which could be used for Amazon showrooms or be used as distribution centers, but the list of bidders for the initial group of soon-to-be-vacant stores did not include Amazon.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Amazon slashes prices at Whole Foods on first day of merger, more changes to come
Media reports around the country reported yesterday that on the day Whole Foods merged with Amazon, prices were slashed on several items at stores around the country. Orange signs throughout the stores with Whole Foods and Amazon logos promised "more to come..."
Price reductions - some as high as 43% - were found on items like tomatoes, organic Fuji apples, avocados, bananas, Atlantic salmon, tilapia, and grass-fed ground beef. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot devices were on sale at a New York City store for $99, down from $179.
Conventional grocery stores have historically enjoyed a significant price advantage over Whole Foods, due in part to advantages in scale, logistics and category management, all of which are issues Amazon plans to help Whole Foods address.
Last week Amazon said it would embark on a plan to have Amazon Prime take over the Whole Foods loyalty program and eventually provide "special savings and in-store benefits" for Prime shoppers. The company also plans to install lockers at select Whole Foods stores to allow for delivery of online orders.
And yesterday, many of Whole Foods' private label products - including 365 Everyday Value, Whole Paws and Whole Catch - were available for online ordering and delivery through the Amazon's various channels.
Price reductions - some as high as 43% - were found on items like tomatoes, organic Fuji apples, avocados, bananas, Atlantic salmon, tilapia, and grass-fed ground beef. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot devices were on sale at a New York City store for $99, down from $179.
Conventional grocery stores have historically enjoyed a significant price advantage over Whole Foods, due in part to advantages in scale, logistics and category management, all of which are issues Amazon plans to help Whole Foods address.
Last week Amazon said it would embark on a plan to have Amazon Prime take over the Whole Foods loyalty program and eventually provide "special savings and in-store benefits" for Prime shoppers. The company also plans to install lockers at select Whole Foods stores to allow for delivery of online orders.
And yesterday, many of Whole Foods' private label products - including 365 Everyday Value, Whole Paws and Whole Catch - were available for online ordering and delivery through the Amazon's various channels.
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