Global e-commerce chain Amazon is planning to launch its own stores in the US. The e-commerce giant already owns Whole Foods in the US but is now being tipped to open its own chain of stores likely in this year itself.
The report comes from “people familiar with the matter” speaking to the Wall Street Journal, so don’t take it as a given just yet – but the WSJ does have a solid record when it comes to these sort of scoops.
Apparently, the new stores will differ from Whole Foods by stocking a different mix of products at lower price points, including groceries and health and beauty products. A pickup service might be available too. The WSJ report also reveals that the sites shall be half the size of a standard grocery store in the US, and that Amazon might consider acquiring another company to help build up the number of stores. However, it is not known as to how and when it will expand to other countries. According to the WSJ, the first store could open in LA before the end of this year, with more locations following – San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Washington DC and Philadelphia are the other US cities that have been mooted.
Whether or not we’ll see the same kind of automated checkout system that the Amazon Go stores use in these new grocery locations is also something that remains to be seen. All we know for sure is that Amazon is keen to sell its customer a large number of items as possible.
As is the norm, Amazon has refused to comment on the report, except to say it doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation. Watch this space and stay tuned for more news on this.