Amazon Introduces Same-Day Delivery for Meat, Eggs, and Produce in 1,000+ Cities

Amazon Expands Same-Day Fresh Food Delivery Across the U.S.

Amazon is aggressively expanding its same-day delivery service for fresh foods, including meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables, to a wider range of U.S. cities and towns. The move is aimed at encouraging shoppers to add perishables to their online carts while exploring Amazon’s extensive digital marketplace. On Wednesday, the company announced that the service is now available in over 1,000 locations, including major cities such as Raleigh, North Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Milwaukee. Amazon plans to extend the service to at least 2,300 locations by the end of the year, reflecting its strong commitment to growing its grocery business nationwide.

The company first tested same-day delivery in Phoenix last year, followed by additional cities this year. Data from these trials showed that customers frequently added perishable items such as strawberries, bananas, and avocados to their orders. Amazon highlighted that many of these consumers were first-time grocery shoppers who, after experiencing same-day delivery, returned to shop twice as often compared to those who didn’t order fresh food. The service is free for Prime members on orders over $25 in most locations. For orders that fall below this minimum, Prime members pay $2.99, while non-Prime members incur a $12.99 fee, regardless of order size.

Amazon’s announcement had an immediate impact on competitors’ stock performance. Grocery delivery company Instacart saw its stock fall 11%, while supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons dropped 4% and 2%, respectively. DoorDash’s shares slid 3%, and Walmart, which also offers same-day grocery deliveries and competes closely with Amazon in logistics and speed, experienced a 2% dip in stock value. Analysts at Mizuho observed that this reflects a significant escalation in head-to-head competition, with Amazon aggressively advancing grocery and rural investments while Walmart continues to focus on expanding its marketplace and advertising operations.

Over the past few years, Amazon has been strategically retooling its grocery operations. The company has upgraded its Fresh grocery store chain to attract more shoppers and has opened fresh food delivery to non-Prime members, broadening its customer base. In addition to groceries, Amazon has also been promoting its growing sales of household essentials, including paper towels, cleaning supplies, bottled beverages, and canned goods.

In January, Amazon appointed Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods Market, to lead its global grocery stores division. Whole Foods, acquired by Amazon in 2017 for $13.7 billion, had previously operated largely independently. Under Buechel’s guidance, Amazon has begun integrating Whole Foods more closely under its grocery umbrella as part of a broader reorganization. This strategic integration is designed to enhance operational efficiencies, improve the customer shopping experience, and strengthen Amazon’s position in the competitive U.S. grocery market.

Overall, Amazon’s expansion of same-day delivery, coupled with its broader grocery strategy, reflects a major push to capture a larger share of the grocery market, drive repeat purchases, and compete aggressively against both traditional supermarket chains and online delivery rivals. By leveraging its logistics infrastructure, technology, and brand strength, Amazon aims to make grocery shopping more convenient and accessible, while reinforcing its dominance in e-commerce and expanding into rural and underserved markets.