1. Amazon
$8.2 billion
+12.5% over 2017
Amazon.com Inc.’s embrace of an omnichannel grocery strategy is paying dividends online, fueled in part by increasing availability of same-day delivery and store pickup. In May, Amazon launched Prime Now delivery from Whole Foods Market stores in 13 new metropolitan areas, enlarging coverage to 88 U.S. markets — with more to come in the months ahead.
Still, the latest food retail buzz for Amazon has centered on brick and mortar. Published reports said Amazon may open up to 3,000 Amazon Go stores by 2021 and launch a supermarket business outside of Whole Foods. In a report earlier this year, Edge by Ascential said Amazon’s overall grocery sales surged 45% in 2018, and 2019 could be the start of when “grocery finally hits” for the company.