Amazon launches 30-minute curbside pickup at Whole Foods

In the latest online initiative from Amazon and its Whole Foods Market grocery chain, the company is starting a new curbside pickup service at some Whole Foods stores for Amazon Prime members.

Customers can place orders via Amazon’s Prime Now app and have groceries loaded into their car upon arrival at a Whole Foods store, according to a company statement. The service is now available in Sacramento, Calif., and in Virginia Beach, Va., with plans to launch in other cities this year.

Pick-up in an hour is free on orders of $35 or more and $1.99 on orders less than $35. For shoppers who need the groceries fast, a 30-minute window is available for $4.99 with no minimum order.

“Pickup from Whole Foods Market is a perfect option for customers who want to grab healthy and organic groceries at their convenience, all without leaving their car,” said Stephenie Landry, worldwide vice president of Prime Now, AmazonFresh and Amazon Restaurants. “A customer can order at 5 p.m., pick up at 5:30 p.m., and we’ll have their groceries loaded into their car just minutes after arrival. For an even faster experience, customers can tell us they are on their way using the Prime Now app and groceries will be ready as they arrive.”

Prime members can also receive the same 10% off sale items they would otherwise get if shopping in the store, as well as the deeper discounts on select items. These savings are available in-store, or when using grocery pickup or delivery.

Related:Whole Foods launches Prime Now delivery in more markets

The curbside pickup news follows yesterday’s announcement that Amazon Echo smart speakers can now use their voice to add Prime Now order items to a Whole Foods cart for delivery within two hours. With this announcement, Whole Foods deliveries will be available in all 24 U.S. markets served by Prime Now.

Learn more about online grocery shopping/delivery and meal solutions at the inaugural SN Summit, held Oct. 1-3 in Dallas, the only conference where food retailers and restaurateurs learn from each other.