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Amazon begins hiring for four new Amazon Fresh stores in Chicagoland

So far, e-tail giant has reported eight locations in California, Illinois

Russell Redman

October 20, 2020

3 Min Read
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Amazon aims to fill about 1,500 full- and part-time positions, including managerial roles, for Amazon Fresh stores in Naperville, Bloomingdale, Oak Lawn and Schaumburg, Ill. Above, an Amazon Fresh employee at the retailer's already opened Woodland Hills, Calif., store.Amazon

Amazon has begun hiring for four new Amazon Fresh grocery stores planned for the Chicago area.

Amazon said Tuesday that it aims to fill about 1,500 full- and part-time positions, including managerial roles, for Amazon Fresh stores in Naperville, Bloomingdale, Oak Lawn and Schaumburg, Ill. The first Amazon Fresh store opened to the public in mid-September after an invitation-only launch in late August.

“Our associates are the heart and soul of our Amazon Fresh stores, and we’re excited to welcome 1,500 employees to the team as we provide customers with new, low-priced grocery stores in their communities,” Catherine Misko, regional manager of Amazon Fresh grocery stores, said in a statement. “These are great jobs with industry-leading pay and benefits, and we’re proud to provide a safe, innovative work environment where associates can grow their careers.” 

Three of the Chicagoland locations — Naperville, Oak Lawn and Schaumburg — are among a half-dozen Amazon Fresh sites that Amazon had previously disclosed, in addition to the Woodland Hills store. Other upcoming locations include Irvine, Northridge and North Hollywood, Calif. Amazon also acquired two Fairway Market store leases in Paramus and Woodland Park, N.J., in March but hasn’t disclosed plans for the locations.

Related:Amazon Fresh ‘built to outlast’ other grocery retailers, says Brick Meets Click

Amazon didn’t release opening timetables for the Naperville, Bloomingdale, Oak Lawn and Schaumburg Amazon Fresh stores or provide more details about the locations. The Naperville store — along with the Woodland Hills, Irvine and Northridge locations — have helped filled online delivery orders during the COVID-19 pandemic prior to their openings.

At the upcoming Chicagoland Amazon Fresh sites, employees will be able to cross-train across the grocery store, Amazon noted. Associates will have the opportunity to learn functions ranging from customer service and checkout to stocking shelves and picking and packing online orders. Food service associates work in the store’s culinary area, preparing delicious, fresh food offerings for customers each day. 

Overall, Amazon has more than 23,000 full- and part-time employees in Illinois, and the Seattle-based company said it offers pay of at least $15 per hour plus a variety of benefits packages. The e-tail giant reported that it has invested more than $8 billion in Illinois, including infrastructure — such as 28 Whole Foods Market supermarkets and seven Amazon Go convenience stores — and worker compensation.

“We are delighted to welcome one of the first Amazon Fresh grocery stores to Naperville and thrilled they’re supporting the community by bringing new jobs with good pay and benefits for our residents,” Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico stated. “We appreciate Amazon’s partnership and look forward to providing our residents with a new low-priced option for fresh groceries.”

Related:First Amazon Fresh store opens to public

News about a new Amazon grocery store concept separate from Whole Foods emerged in the fall of 2019, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon was planning a new chain of stores starting in Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. More recently, in an Aug. 6 posting, food/tech blogger Matt Newberg of HNGRY said public records indicated that Amazon planned to open at least 15 retail grocery stores under the Amazon Fresh brand in Southern California, New Jersey, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

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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