Amazon Reportedly Planning to Open Several Dozen Non-Whole Foods-Branded Grocery Stores

Executive Summary

Amazon is reportedly planning to expand its presence in the US grocery market by building new stores it will operate under a banner other than Whole Foods Markets, which it acquired in 2017, and with a more typical product offering. Amazon is also considering acquiring several regional chains. At the same time, the company is expanding its fleet of Whole Foods Market and Amazon Go stores.

• Amazon plans to open several dozen grocery stores in major US cities, with the first store in Los Angeles at the end of the year, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. The company has already signed leases for openings next year, and talks are underway for stores in other cities.
• Amazon is reportedly not planning to open these stores under its Whole Foods Market banner. The new stores are expected to offer a wider, more typical assortment, at lower price points, for example, including items that contain artificial ingredients and other additives.
• The company is also reportedly considering purchasing retail grocery chains with about a dozen stores each.