Albertsons began testing a delivery subscription service in March across several of its markets. About 12 stores now offer the service, and the company plans to bring it to more locations after positive results in both Phoenix and Southern California.
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Whole Foods Market has expanded its two-hour delivery service to Amazon's main website, which offers free delivery to Prime members. The service has entered nearly 30 cities after a successful pilot in select markets including Denver and Portland, Ore.
Walmart is investing in artificial intelligence to more efficiently manage its stores and reduce costs. The retailer's Intelligent Retail Lab, located in a Long Island, N.Y., Neighborhood Market, includes thousands of cameras and shelf sensors to help employees quickly restock items and address problems such as spills.
Effective Sept. 1, Amazon will place a surcharge of $1.99 per shipped product on CPG items, identified as part of the retailer's packaging improvement program, that haven't complied with the initiative's requirements. Those companies that introduce upgraded packaging before the deadline will get a $1 credit for each shipped item.
Walmart has teamed with Postmates to offer same-day grocery delivery. The program kicks off in Charlotte, N.C., and will be offered in 100 other metro areas over the next few months.
Publix Super Markets has begun testing curbside pickup at two stores in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area, after discontinuing an earlier grocery e-commerce program that the retailer began testing as early as the 1990s. Publix, which offers grocery delivery through Instacart, will expand the new curbside pickup service to the Atlanta market by the end of 2017.