Amazon Expands Same-Day Grocery Delivery to 2,300 US Cities
Amazon is significantly scaling its logistics footprint, announcing that residents across more than 2,300 cities and towns in the United States can now access same-day delivery for perishable groceries. This expansion marks a strategic push by the e-commerce titan to capture a larger share of the rapid-delivery market, with further growth planned for 2026.
Scaling the Perishable Supply Chain
The company first introduced the option to include fresh items in its same-day service last August, positioning the move as a direct challenge to competitors like Walmart+ and Instacart. Since then, the selection of perishable goods—including fresh produce, meat, seafood, and dairy—has increased by more than 30%, bolstered by the addition of thousands of products from Whole Foods Market.
To maintain product integrity, Amazon utilizes a specialized fulfillment network designed for temperature control. According to the company, all shipments undergo a six-point quality inspection process before departing for delivery, and items requiring climate regulation are transported in insulated packaging.
Consumer Habits and Top Sellers
The integration of perishables into the same-day delivery ecosystem has fundamentally changed buying patterns on the platform. Data from Amazon indicates that fresh groceries now account for nine of the ten most-ordered products for rapid fulfillment. The current list of bestsellers includes:
- Bananas and organic bananas
- Haas avocados
- Strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries
- Honeycrisp apples and navel oranges
- Limes
- Bathroom tissues
The company reports that perishable grocery sales have surged 30 times over since January. Furthermore, shoppers who incorporate fresh food items into their same-day orders demonstrate higher loyalty, shopping roughly twice as often as those who stick exclusively to non-perishable goods.
Pricing and Membership Tiers
Amazon has structured the service to incentivize Prime membership while maintaining accessibility for all shoppers:
- Prime Members: Delivery is free on orders exceeding $25. For orders below this threshold, a $2.99 service fee applies.
- Non-Prime Customers: The service is available for a flat fee of $12.99 per order, regardless of the cart total.