Amazon’s Whole Foods Market acquisition to close Monday

Amazon and Whole Foods Market have announced that online giant’s acquisition of the food retailer will close on Monday (28 August). As part of the new, integrated strategy, Amazon said it will be building up links between the Whole Foods Market and Amazon Prime offerings.

Amazon said that its aim is to make “high-quality, natural and organic food affordable for everyone – and “as a down payment on that vision, Whole Foods Market will offer lower prices starting Monday on a selection of best-selling grocery staples across its stores, with more to come”.

Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer, said: “This is just the beginning – we will make Amazon Prime the customer rewards program at Whole Foods Market and continuously lower prices as we invent together. There is significant work and opportunity ahead, and we’re thrilled to get started.”

And – significantly for the parcel delivery industry – Amazon announced that Amazon Lockers will be available in select Whole Foods Market stores. Customers can have products shipped from Amazon.com to their local Whole Foods Market store for pick up or send returns back to Amazon during a trip to the store.