Whole Foods Adds More Cities To to Amazon Prime Now Delivery

Amazon and Whole Foods Market announced on Wednesday (April 10) that delivery of Whole Foods Market products via Prime Now has been expanded to nine more cities.

In a press release, the eCommerce giant said that as of Wednesday, Prime members can shop via Prime Now and get delivery in as fast as an hour. With the additional cities – Asheville, Charlottesville, Columbia, Lexington, Little Rock, Manchester, Mobile, Naples and Savannah –the delivery service is now available in 75 U.S. metros. Amazon said it will continue to expand the service throughout this year.

Amazon also said it has expanded its grocery pickup to Whole Foods Market in Columbus, Ohio. The service is now available in 30 U.S. metros, with plans to expand further this year. “Prime Now delivery and pickup continues to be a hit with our customers, and we’re excited to introduce the service to even more Prime members across the country,” said Christina Minardi, Whole Foods Market executive vice president of operations, in the press release. “It’s just another way we’re making it even easier for more customers to enjoy Whole Foods Market’s healthy and organic food.”

Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Amazon was also looking at closed Sears and Kmart Stores amid its expansion plans. The recent woes of Sears and other struggling retailers are seen as an opportunity for the online retail giant. Sources told Yahoo! Finance at the time that the company is visiting sites of now-defunct retail spaces. Other media reports signaled that Whole Foods Market wants to have more stores in suburban areas, where it has gained customers since being acquired by Amazon.

If Amazon is to open more stores, it is expected to drive more competition in the supermarket industry, as companies have been forced to take steps to counter a combined Amazon and Whole Foods.