Amazon Fresh opens a new California store

Just a week after its last store opening, fast-growing Amazon Fresh opened yet another high-tech supermarket, this one in East Pasadena, California, the retailer announced Thursday.

The 42,000-square-foot store is the company’s 44th Amazon Fresh location.

It features Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology that allows shoppers to skip the checkout line and pay using an in-store QR code in the retailer’s app.

Amazon said it will employ hundreds of workers at the new store, with starting wages of $16.15.

The store will stock Amazon-exclusive brands such as Aplenty and Fresh, as well as 365 by Whole Foods Market organic products. It will also sell a variety of prepared foods, including made-to-order pizzas, hot sandwiches and rotisserie chicken.

Amazon has previously said it is planning future Amazon Fresh stores in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The company opened its first Amazon Fresh store just two years ago in Woodland Hills, California, about 30 miles from this latest location.

Amazon Fresh on Wednesday announced it would only sell cage-free eggs. That includes whole-shell and liquid eggs available in-store and online from all national brands and Amazon’s Happy Belly private label.

"Amazon Fresh made the decision to roll out our cage-free commitment nationally as a response to animal welfare becoming an increasing priority to our customers and the industry," John Farrell, chief merchant for Amazon Fresh, said in a statement. "This commitment is a result of our team supporting animal-welfare policies, and we look forward to hearing feedback from our customers as we continue to focus on product sustainability in our selection across different categories."