Amazon is testing a grocery pickup service in Seattle, as the online giant attempts to crack into the multi-billion dollar grocery market dominated by retail giants such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
The AmazonFresh Pickup service is currently open only to Amazon employees. Eventually, members of Amazon's $99-a-year Prime loyalty program will be able to order groceries online and drive to a pickup location, where crews will deliver items to the car.
Amazon says orders will be ready in as little as 15 minutes after being placed. Amazon Prime members can place the order online and choose a time for the pick up, the company said on Tuesday. The company will keep the order bagged.
The company also delivers groceries to homes under its AmazonFresh service. The AmazonFresh Pickup service is the latest way Amazon is testing new ways to shop.
The service is being tested in two locations in Seattle, where Amazon is headquartered. Amazon also has a physical book store in Seattle, as well as pop-ups at malls where it displays Amazon devices such as the Kindle.
At an Amazon Go convenience store in Seattle, items selected are automatically monitored and added to a virtual cart so shoppers can skip the checkout. That store is also open only to Amazon employees so far.
Amazon already has a grocery delivery service in some cities.
Written with agency inputs
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