Amazon Fresh Debuts in New Jersey

Fast-growing Amazon Fresh on Thursday opened its first store in New Jersey and expanded its presence in Southern California with a new store in Encino. 

The New Jersey opening bolsters Amazon Fresh's presence in the Northeast. Just last week, the grocery arm from the retail giant opened its first New York store, in Oceanside. The week before that, another Amazon Fresh store debuted in Arlington, Virginia, the third to open in that area this summer. 

As with the other Amazon Fresh stores, the two newest locations feature the company's Just Walk Out technology, allowing shoppers to enter and exit the supermarket via the Amazon app. Payment also goes through the app, with no need for a traditional checkout line. 

The Amazon Fresh stores that opened Thursday will offer produce; meat and seafood; prepared foods; national brands; regional brands; 365 by Whole Foods Market organics; and Amazon-exclusive brands—Aplenty, Cursive, Fresh, and newly announced Fresh Plant-Based products.

At the New Jersey store, Amazon Fresh shoppers will find regional selections such as Crook & Marker, Wellshire Farms, Deep Indian Kitchen, and Explore Cuisine.

Regional selections at the California store include 4th & Heart, Groundwork Coffee, CoolHaus Ice Cream, and Rockenwagner Bakery.

The grocery chain is growing fast. Amazon Fresh stores made their debut in August 2020 in Bellevue, Washington, and has expanded rapidly with stores in California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and now New Jersey.

Amazon has said it plans to expand its Amazon Fresh stores further in New Jersey, with more openings in Eatontown, Lodi, and Woodland Park.

CORRECTION: This piece has been updated with the correct location of Amazon's new store opening in New Jersey.