It's a reasonable and pretty affordable minimum purchase requirement, even for those live alone.

A company spokesperson previously declined to comment on the development when reached by Grocery Dive.At the moment, Amazon Prime customers can enjoy free grocery delivery via the company's Fresh service for checkouts worth $35 and above. The rollout of Amazon Fresh stores appears to be paused, however, with The Information reporting last month the company has not opened a new location since September. “We will continue to offer convenient two-hour delivery windows for all orders, and customers in some areas will be able to select a longer delivery window for a reduced fee.”Īmazon Fresh will continue to offer free one-hour pickup service for Prime members, according to the brand’s website, which also lists the new delivery fee structure.Īmazon Fresh has been delivering groceries since 2007, and nowadays also incorporates a fleet of more than 40 stores. “We’re introducing a service fee on some Amazon Fresh delivery orders to help keep prices low in our online and physical grocery stores as we better cover grocery delivery costs and continue to enable offering a consistent, fast, and high-quality delivery experience,” an Amazon spokesperson said in an email. Moreover, the news highlights the harsh economic realities of offering online grocery service as costs mount and sales growth slows amid ongoing inflation. Earlier that year, Amazon shuttered its Amazon Pantry stock-up grocery service.

In late 2021, Whole Foods caused a stir when it tacked on a $9.95 service fee for delivery orders after previously offering the service for free on orders over $35. The move echoes past steps Amazon has taken to address profitability across its budding grocery properties.

Previously, the company waived delivery fees on orders over $35. With this update, which applies to orders from both Amazon Fresh stores as well as its online-only service, Amazon is more than quadrupling the amount Prime shoppers must spend on a grocery order in order to get free delivery.

Amazon fresh delivery areas