Amazon Cardholders Can Chase More Whole Foods Discounts

Amazon customers with the right credit card can keep chasing more grocery discounts at Whole Foods.

The eCommerce operator said that between July 14 and July 17, users of the Visa-branded Amazon Prime Rewards credit card will receive 10 percent discounts off their purchases from Amazon-owned Whole Foods. Those cards normally offer users 5 percent cash back on Whole Foods and Amazon purchases but no direct discounts.

Eligible Prime members can use the discounts for up to $400 worth of purchases at the grocery store, including Whole Foods Market’s 365 locations.

Amazon reportedly has thought about expanding its relationship with JPMorgan Chase from consumer cards to commercial cards targeted at SMBs. In late June, American Express said that it had teamed up with Amazon on a co-branded card for SMBs in the United States. The card product offers integrated spend management features, enabling small firms to gain insight into purchasing activity.

The collaboration with American Express is Amazon’s first step into small business commercial cards.

Meanwhile, the Chase-related Whole Foods discount program represents not only the latest effort by Amazon to spark consumers to sign up for those Prime Reward cards, but the most recent move to increase revenue via the acquisition and bolster its loyalty program.

In late June, for instance, Amazon rolled out an expanded discount program at Whole Foods Market. The benefits, which include 10 percent off sale items and “deep discounts on select popular products” will be available at the company’s brick-and-mortar stores and through Prime Now delivery of Whole Foods groceries.

The Whole Foods discount programs could pay off in a big way for the eCommerce operator as it works to increase its Prime customer base.

RBC Capital Markets’ Lead Internet Analyst Mark Mahaney recently said that there could be 20 to 30 million people who live near a Whole Foods store but don’t shop there on an ongoing basis, while there are about 60 to 70 million Prime customers in the United States.