» RELATED: Amazon Prime members to receive discounts at Whole Foods
“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,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO of AmazonWorldwide Consumer. “There is significant work and opportunity ahead, and we’re thrilled to get started.”
Here’s what’s really going on with the Amazon/Whole Foods Market deal:
1. Prime members will get special deals
The company announced Amazon Prime members will receive special savings and in-store benefits at Whole Foods.
When the system integration is complete, Prime members will receive special savings and in-store benefits. The two companies will also come up with additional ideas to lower prices for Whole Foods Market customers.
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2. Amazon will have a presence in Whole Foods stores.
Whole Foods stores will also now have Amazon Lockers, where customers can pick up or send returns back to Amazon during their grocery store trips.
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3. Whole Foods stores will see lower prices immediately, Amazon officials said.
Whole Foods Market will offer lower prices starting today on a selection of best-selling grocery staples across its stores, the company said in a statement. Amazon and Whole Foods Market technology teams will also begin to integrate Amazon Prime into the Whole Foods Market point-of-sale system.
4. Amazon wants Whole Foods to be affordable for everyone.
“We’re determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone. Everybody should be able to eat Whole Foods Market quality – we will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Market’s long-held commitment to the highest standards,” Wilke said. “To get started, we’re going to lower prices beginning Monday on a selection of best-selling grocery staples, including Whole Trade organic bananas, responsibly-farmed salmon, organic large brown eggs, animal-welfare-rated 85 percent lean ground beef, and more.”
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5. The sale comes as sales at Whole Foods have decreased.
Whole Foods reported its third quarter earnings late last month, with total sales increasing about 0.6 percent to a record $3.7 billion. However, comparable store sales decreased nearly 2 percent. During the earnings report, Whole Foods addressed the merger, in which Amazon.com will acquire the grocery chain for $42 per share in an all-cash transaction.
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