AUSTIN, TX - It seems that every day a new development comes to light in terms of grocery delivery and pickup. Whole Foods Market is aiming to be the top option for shoppers, recently rolling out free, one-hour pickup at all U.S. locations for Prime members. Prime members can shop thousands of bestselling items including fresh produce and other locally sourced products all available with free, one-hour pickup on orders of $35 or more.

According to a press release, Prime members can open the Amazon app or visit the website, click the Whole Foods Market tab, select a pickup store, and start shopping. Once they’re ready to checkout, they can select a one-hour pickup window that works for them and place their order. When they’re ready to pick up their order, they can check-in using the Amazon app to let store employees know they’re on their way. The majority of customers who check-in using the Amazon App before arriving at the store wait just one minute to receive their orders after arriving.

Whole Foods noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online grocery services, it’s clear that this offering will become a more permanent solution for many customers. In fact, more than 40 percent of Whole Foods Market pickup orders each month are from customers trying the service for the first time, as stated in the release. And, according to recent data from Global Data Research, almost 68 percent of consumers say they will continue to use curbside pickup even when the pandemic has subsided.

In addition to grocery pickup, Prime members in more than 2,000 cities and towns can receive unlimited free, two-hour delivery on more than 170,000 items from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market on orders of $35 or more.

How else might this competitive grocery sector heat up? Stay tuned as we report.

Whole Foods Market