If you're a red-blooded, self-respecting American citizen, chances are you've made a purchase or two from an online store.
And if so, there's even more chance that more than a few of those purchases were made on none other than Amazon. (AMZN) the world's largest online retailer.
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Amazon offers more than 12 million SKUs (or stock keeping units, the industry term for a single product or inventory item) and many of them are available for fast, free delivery if you're a Prime member. Many of us have become accustomed to the convenience of purchasing an important (or not super vital, but fun to have) item on Amazon only to see it show up on the porch a day later. In some cases and markets, Amazon even offers same-day delivery, a fulfillment option it has been working to develop in recent years.
But Prime members have access to much more than free shipping these days. Some other perks include Prime Video, Amazon's streaming service, unlimited photo storage, early access to deals and promotions, and savings at Whole Foods.
The latter is especially important for Amazon as it tries to build out its in-person shopping efforts, which, outside of Whole Foods, have had a mixed reception across the country. The truth of the matter is that most of us think of Amazon as an online hub, so its 2017 acquisition of Whole Foods remains the first line of defense in bolstering its brick-and-mortar ambitions.
Amazon launches new retail concept
It may not be surprising, then, that Amazon is launching a new store concept with Whole Foods at the forefront. In early March, the retail giant announced that it would launch Whole Foods Market Daily shop, a condensed version of its already very popular Whole Foods supermarket chain.
Whole Foods Market Daily shop will open its first store at 1175 Third Ave. in New York City, located on the Upper East Side, in late 2024. The store will be between 7,000 and 14,000 square feet, much smaller than a Whole Foods typical. ' occupies an average of 40,000 square feet and offers the typical amenities one might expect in a Manhattan corner store.
Some of these items include basic products such as:
- fresh products
- Meat
- Seafood
- Prepared foods such as sandwiches and packaged meals.
- Bread
- Alcohol
- Supplements
The store will also feature some local favorites and products from Whole Foods' most affordable in-house brand, 365 by Whole Foods Market.
Whole-grain foods
Whole Foods Market's daily store will also be the first to include Juice & Java, a coffee and smoothie shop, for customers to enjoy while browsing.
“In our new store formats, we are adapting every square meter to the unique and fast-paced needs of urban lifestyles. We're excited to introduce a new way for our customers to quickly choose their Whole Foods Market favorites, from grab-and-go meals to that last-minute ingredient for dinner, making early-morning or after-work trips to the grocery store more efficient. and pleasant. ”said Christina Minardi, executive vice president of Growth and Development, Whole Foods Market and Amazon. “Expanding our presence with Whole Foods Market Daily shop is key to our growth, fostering deeper connections with customers and furthering our purpose of nourishing people and the planet.”
Whole Foods plans to expand the concept in the New York City metropolitan area first and then, depending on its reception and success, has ambitions to open more stores across the country.
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