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.

The Fresh Market to limit expansion to existing markets

The Fresh Market announced earlier this month that they plan to increase penetration in existing markets while slowing the pace of expansion in new markets. The company also announced the upcoming closures of four stores, three in Sacramento, CA and one in Houston, TX.

The Fresh Market, which operates more than 150 stores nationwide, entered the California market in 2012 and the Houston market last year (through an acquisition). As of this evening, the company's website says that it operates two stores in California and four in Houston, one of which has a location in Turtle Creek listed as "TBD."

There are four Fresh Market stores in Pennsylvania and two in New Jersey.