Amazon is expanding its competitive footprint in grocery delivery by adding fresh, perishable items to its same-day delivery service, now available in more than 1,000 cities and towns, with plans to expand to over 2,300 across the U.S. by yearend.
This marks one of the most significant grocery expansions for Amazon as the company introduces thousands of perishable food items into its existing logistics network that is already optimized for speed and efficiency, according to a news release. The offering includes fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, bakery, frozen foods and other staples, integrated with Amazon's existing same-day assortment of household goods, electronics and apparel.
Amazon says customers are looking to make their budgets stretch further, and that's why it is focused on offering a wide selection of national and local brands, including organic and natural options, at an incredible value through this new offering.
For Prime members, orders over $25 qualify for free delivery (in most cities); smaller orders carry a $2.99 fee. Non-members can access the service for $12.99 per delivery. Orders are fulfilled through a combination of refrigerated facilities, insulated packaging and Amazon's regional logistics network, enabling groceries and non-food items to arrive together within hours.
“We're continuously innovating to make grocery shopping simpler, faster and more affordable for our customers, especially Prime members,” says Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores. “By introducing fresh groceries into our same-day delivery service, we're creating a quick and easy experience for customers. They can order milk alongside electronics; oranges, apples and potatoes with a mystery novel; and frozen pizza at the same time as tools for their next home improvement project — and check out with one cart and have everything delivered to their doorstep within hours.”
When Amazon began to add perishable groceries like bananas, milk, eggs, bread and ice cream to its same-day delivery service in regions like Phoenix, Ariz., Orlando, Fla.; and Kansas City, Mo., customers embraced the convenience, the release says. Many of these shoppers were first-time Amazon grocery customers who now return to shop twice as often with same-day delivery service compared to those who didn't purchase fresh food. What's more, the company says early adoption in these regions showed the popularity of groceries among Prime members, with strawberries now consistently knocking AirPods out of the top five best sellers of all products sold, while bananas, Honeycrisp apples, limes and avocados round out the top 10 most popular perishable grocery items in same-day delivery carts. Now, customers in cities like Raleigh, N.C.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Tampa, Fla.; Columbus, Ohio and many more can discover this new convenience too, the company says.
“After trying this service for occasional items, customers have discovered how much we've simplified online grocery shopping,” Herrington says. “For example, of course you can order cookware for same-day delivery, but now you can add everything you need alongside it for grandma's chicken soup recipe — all the fresh veggies, broth, noodles, herbs, chicken and even bowls to serve it in. Just add what you need in one order, and we handle the rest. Customers are enjoying online grocery delivery so much [that] we're seeing them turn to Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market for even more of their grocery needs.”
Amazon says it works hard to ensure customers can feel confident in the fresh food they're purchasing online. Its specialized temperature-controlled fulfillment network ensures customers receive fresh, high-quality perishable grocery items, with every item undergoing a six-point quality check upon arrival and before leaving for delivery. Temperature-sensitive products are delivered in insulated bags that are recyclable in most curbside recycling programs, the same used for Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market deliveries, to ensure items remain at appropriate temperatures.
Amazon says it has spent over 25 years setting the standard for selection, speed and value across millions of products — and it's bringing that same commitment to groceries. Already a go-to destination for grocery shopping for over 150 million Americans, Amazon generated over $100 billion in gross sales of groceries and household essentials in 2024, not including sales from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh.
The service complements Amazon's existing grocery delivery offerings, including Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and a variety of local grocery and specialty retailers, giving customers multiple ways to shop for groceries based on their specific needs — from full grocery hauls to same-day convenience shopping that combines perishable food with everyday household essentials. Amazon says it will continue expanding this capability to additional cities and towns through 2026. For more information about Prime, including discounted memberships, visit aboutamazon.com/prime.
