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Whole Foods Market launches free grocery pickup at all stores

Service available to Amazon Prime members placing orders of $35 or more

Russell Redman

October 21, 2020

3 Min Read
Whole Foods Amazon curbside pickup.jpg
Amazon said more than 40% of Whole Foods monthly pickup orders come from customers trying the service for the first time.Amazon/Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market has started offering free one-hour grocery pickup from any of its U.S. stores for members of Amazon’s Prime customer benefits program.

Parent company Amazon said Wednesday that Whole Foods pickup service carries no charge for Prime customers placing orders of $35 or more, including fresh produce, meat and seafood plus everyday grocery and household staples, locally sourced products and holiday favorites. The Austin, Texas-based specialty grocer operates 487 U.S. stores.

Use of online grocery pickup has escalated since the COVID-19 outbreak, but the service stands to become a regular solution for many customers, Amazon noted. The company said more than 40% of Whole Foods monthly pickup orders come from customers trying the service for the first time and, according to recent findings from Global Data Research, nearly 68% of consumers plan to keep using curbside pickup post-pandemic. 

Whole Foods curbside pickup sign.jpg

Amazon accelerated the rollout of curbside pickup at Whole Foods only recently, driven by demand amid the pandemic. In April, the company said it had extended the service from about 80 Whole Foods stores to more than 150 over several weeks.

To place Whole Foods orders for free pickup, Prime members open the Amazon mobile app or go online to Amazon.com, click the Whole Foods Market tab, choose a pickup store and start shopping. When ready to checkout, they select a one-hour pickup window and then complete their order. In the designated time frame, customers head to the store and check in via the Amazon app to let the store know they’re on their way. Most customers who check in using the Amazon app before arriving at the store wait just one minute to receive their orders after arriving, the company said.

Related:Whole Foods puts seniors and at-risk customers first with online grocery pickup

Grocery pickup in an hour is free for Amazon Prime members on orders of at least $35 but carries a $4.99 fee for orders to be ready in 30 minutes.

Amazon has accelerated the rollout of curbside pickup at Whole Foods only recently, driven by customer demand amid the pandemic. 

The service launched in August 2018 in 14 metropolitan markets and then was expanded to 30 markets in April 2019. However, in a blog post on its coronavirus response measures this past April, Amazon reported that grocery pickup was extended from about 80 Whole Foods stores to more than 150 over several weeks, and more locations would be adding the service. 

Seattle-based Amazon previously had focused more expanding grocery delivery service. Currently, 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 stores on orders of $35 or more. Besides groceries, members can order toys, gifts, household products and everyday essentials and electronics, among other items.

Related:Amazon ups online grocery ante with free AmazonFresh

Last October, Amazon made free grocery delivery part of the Prime benefits package by dropping the fee for its AmazonFresh perishables delivery service for Prime members placing orders of $35 or more. Amazon’s Prime Now (including Whole Foods) and Prime Pantry programs had already offered members free delivery on orders of at least $35.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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