Amazon now offers same-day delivery of perishable groceries in 2,300 US cities

In a groundbreaking move, Amazon has announced that customers in more than 2,300 cities and towns across the United States can now access fresh groceries through its Same-Day Delivery service. This expansion is part of Amazon's strategy to enhance its competitive edge against rivals like Instacart and Walmart+ in the fast-paced grocery delivery market. Initially launched in August, the Same-Day Delivery option for perishable goods has quickly gained popularity. Customers can now order a wide range of fresh items, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods, and frozen foods. These perishable products are offered alongside a variety of other essentials, such as electronics, books, and everyday household items. To ensure quality, Amazon utilizes a specialized temperature-controlled fulfillment network, which guarantees that perishable groceries remain intact during delivery. Each order undergoes a rigorous six-point quality check before leaving the warehouse. Additionally, temperature-sensitive items are delivered in insulated bags to maintain freshness. According to Amazon, fresh groceries now dominate the fast delivery category, with nine out of the top ten most-ordered items being perishable. The top items for Same-Day Delivery include bananas, Haas avocados, strawberries, and honeycrisp apples, among others. The company reports that sales of perishable groceries have surged by 30 times since January, with customers who include fresh items in their orders shopping approximately twice as frequently as those who do not. For Prime members, same-day delivery is free on orders over $25. For orders below this threshold, a fee of $2.99 applies. Non-Prime customers can also use the service for a flat fee of $12.99, regardless of order size. In the past few months, Amazon has increased its selection of perishable items available for Same-Day Delivery by over 30%, incorporating thousands of popular products from Whole Foods Market.