Amazon’s New Convenience Stores and Click and Collect Drive-In Concept

14 Oct 2016 --- Speculation is mounting in the US media that Amazon is planning to build mini grocery stores and pick up points for online food orders.

Although the company told FoodIngredientsFirst that it does not comment on rumor and speculation, this week has seen a flurry of stories in the US media about Amazon expanding its grocery business with new convenience stores.

The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and other publications have all reported how the ecommerce giant will soon move to bolster its brick-and-mortar presence, with one of the first locations being Seattle. 

The idea is that customers could browse through stores for perishable items as well as use their phones and tablets to make other purchases that can be delivered the same day. The service is to made available to Amazon Fresh members and would include meat, milk and fresh groceries.

Reports also claim Amazon will create designated drive-in locations where items can be delivered straight into the truck. License plate scanning technology can track motorists who pull up to collect groceries quickly and efficiently. 

This way Amazon appeals to consumers who want to physically browse and select their perishable food as well as use existing apps and online ordering to click and collect for later the same day. 

The brick-and-mortar convenience store expansion follows several years of Amazon testing the logistical complications of delivering perishable food through its fresh service and last year’s opening of its first physical bookstore in Seattle and several other cities including San Diego, Portland and Chicago earlier this year.