Earlier this summer, e-commerce giant Amazon announced that it would be buying high-end organic grocery chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion; the deal officially closed at the end of August. While the acquisition has been off to a rocky start, it gives Amazon hundreds of physical stores and provides the company a strong entryway into the competitive grocery and food industry.
Amazon has proved that the acquisition with Whole Food was the best that was ever done. Amazon surprised shoppers with its acquisition of the grocery chain. It proved Amazon was serious about operating old fashioned brick-and-mortar stores at a large scale. It also signaled Amazon was taking direct aim at the stale grocery industry. Since the deal was completed in August, Amazon has firmly put its stamp across Whole Foods' 473 stores.
Amazon's first order of business was marking down
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Many of Whole Foods' in-house brands, including "365 Everday Value," are now available to buy on Amazon's website. Amazon also announced Thursday that it will introduce free, two-hour delivery via its Prime Now service across the United States by the end of 2018 for Prime members.
Amazon next order of business was primary exclusive deals and discounts. Beginning last Thanksgiving, Amazon has lured in members of is $99 yearly Prime service with even deeper discounts. For example, Whole Foods shaved off 50¢ per pound on turkeys. Now, it's selling roses at reduced prices to Prime members for Valentine's Day.
Amazon was quick to sell its tech products within Whole Foods stores. Silly signs chirped "farm fresh" deals on Kindle and Echo smart speakers. It expanded that concept with pop-up shops across five Whole Foods stores during the holidays, selling Prime memberships and electronics. The displays are still prominent across many of its stores. Amazon also installed Lockers for shoppers to pick-up their online