(Photo Source: CNN.com)

Amazon changes the grocery store game

As of October 29, 2019, Amazon is offering free Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh grocery delivery for Prime members. The company announced it will eliminate the monthly fee of $14.99 that they used to charge subscribers.

Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market delivery is currently available in 2,000 locations, ranging from America’s biggest cities to small rural towns. Stephenie Landry, Amazon’s Vice President of Grocery Deliveries, said more and more people are ordering groceries online, and the free delivery service could be a “game changer.”

“Given the rapid growth of grocery delivery we expect this will be a popular benefit, so today Prime members currently shopping grocery delivery can continue enjoying these services. All other Prime members who live in one of the more than 2,000 cities and towns where grocery delivery is available can request an invitation to shop Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market delivery—we’ll alert you when you are able to shop,” Amazon said in a blog post. “We’ve also improved delivery speed with one and two-hour options in most Amazon Fresh cities, and we’ll continue expanding ultrafast speeds to all cities where the service is available.”

Amazon Fresh is competing with Wal-Mart’s new grocery delivery service, which the retailer rolled out earlier this year. Wal-Mart even offers the special perk of having store employees enter your home and stock the refrigerator and pantry.

“Customers are hungry for options that help them solve for both weekly meal planning and the moments when they need groceries in a pinch,” Amazon said. “Fast and free grocery delivery with Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market accomplishes both those needs.”