Grocery Roundup: Amazon Expands Grocery Technology Rollout; Supermarkets Add Online SNAP Acceptance

Amazon is expanding its checkout technology beyond its home city.

On Tuesday (April 19), multiple outlets reported that the tech and retail giant has implemented its Amazon One payment technology, by which consumers pay by hovering their palms over a biometric scanning device, at a Whole Foods Market location in Austin, Texas. This move marks the first implementation of the technology at a Whole Foods store outside of Seattle, Washington, where Amazon is headquartered.

“Amazon One is all about making everyday activities, like paying at a store, easier and more convenient for customers,” Thi Luu, director of product management at Amazon and leader of customer experience programs for the company’s physical stores, said in a statement. “We built Amazon One to offer a quick, reliable and secure way for people to identify themselves or authorize a transaction while moving seamlessly through their day.”

Additionally, on Thursday (April 21), multiple reports stated that Amazon is openings three additional Amazon Fresh stores in Southern California, all of which will utilize the company’s “Just Walk Out” cashier-less checkout technology, whereby consumers can pick their items off the shelves and leave the store, and those items are automatically charged to their accounts.

“We’re thrilled about the customer response to Amazon Fresh stores. Our efforts to evolve our grocery experience into a seamless, omnichannel offering have been well-received by shoppers and the industry,” Jeff Helbling, vice president of Amazon Fresh Stores, told Supermarket News. “We have exciting plans for Amazon Fresh stores this year and in the future.”

Grocers Add Online SNAP Acceptance

This week, grocers Meijer and Bashas’ both announced moves to accept Electronic Benefits Transfer and Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (EBT SNAP) through their eCommerce channels.

The former, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based supermarket chain with 258 stores across six states, announced Tuesday that it is now accepting EBT SNAP payments through its online direct ordering channels, which enable purchasing both for delivery and pickup, at stores in Michigan.

“We believe all customers should have access to personalized, convenient, digital shopping services and understand the added benefit this new payment capability provides,” Derek Steele, vice president of Customer Strategy for Meijer, said in a statement.

Additionally, on Wednesday (April 20), Chandler, Arizona-based grocery chain Bashas’, which has over 100 stores across its home state and New Mexico, announced the acceptance of EBT SNAP for eligible Instacart orders for same-day delivery and curbside pickup.

“Giving shoppers the ability to use their SNAP benefits when ordering their groceries online through Instacart makes nutritious food more convenient and affordable,” the grocer’s president Edward “Trey” Basha said in a statement.

The news came one week after grocer Wegmans Food Markets announced a partnership with Instacart to accept (EBT SNAP) payments at its 106 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and North Carolina.

Related news: Instacart to Accept EBT SNAP Payments on Wegmans Orders

Wawa to Grow Twofold, Expand Drive-Thru Presence

Wawa is gearing up for major growth. Chris Gheysens, CEO of the Wawa, Pennsylvania-based convenience chain, which has more than 960 stores across the East Coast, said in an interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal last week that the retailer plans to double its unit count by 2030.

Additionally, after opening its first drive-thru in New Jersey in late 2020, Gheysens noted that the company will be opening two more drive-thru locations in Pennsylvania before the end of the year and bringing the format to Florida in 2023.

Moreover, the company announced Monday (April 18) that it plans to grow its presence in the Florida Panhandle region and South Alabama, with its 250th store in Florida set to open later this year.

“Over the years, we’ve been delighted to hear from so many people from so many areas, who are interested in having a Wawa closer to home,” John Poplawski, vice president of Real Estate for Wawa, said in a statement. “We look forward to expanding beyond our current reach and serving these new markets with our quality fresh food and beverages and, as always, our deep commitment to the communities in which we operate.”

10-Minute Grocery Delivery App Launches Café Service in India, Eschews Food Delivery

Around the world, restaurant delivery aggregators are leveraging their driver networks to make moves into grocery delivery. However, while some online grocery companies (e.g., Instacart) have in turn expanded their offerings to include hot food, others are firmly holding the line.

Zepto, a 10-minute grocery delivery app in India, recently announced a pilot test of a café service. However, the company is avoiding further moves into restaurant categories.

“Let me clarify that we are not doing food delivery. This is a Café format, with ready-to-drink coffee, chai, and packaged snacks (like biscuits and sandwiches),” Aadit Palicha, the company’s CEO and co-founder, said in a statement, according to Business Standard. “We don’t want to get distracted from our core business by building a complex supply chain for food delivery, where it’s difficult to control quality.”