Amazon started off with books, but what wasn't enough, so the giant online retailer moved to other goods from movies to gadgets to household items. Now it's moved on to foods, from fresh to frozen, to non-perishables goods, they even have organic items for sale.
When the company started in 1995, it was the world's biggest bookstore. The sky as their limit, they continued to extend their band, and it looks as if their latest venture will be just as successful. The pilot project was launched in Seattle this week in response to customer requests for non-perishables according to the Washington Post.
"During the height of the dot-com frenzy, companies like WebVan, HomeGrocer, ShopLink and Streamline opened their virtual doors only to shut down or be acquired by larger firms due to a public yet unsold on the idea of buying perishables online.
"If AmazonFresh expands, it would be competing with online grocers Peapod.com and regional services such as FreshDirect.com or YourGrocer.com in the New York area.
Perhaps this could challenge eBay, the world's most popular e-commerce site (Amazon is the second) to start auctioning off food items. Imagine, luxury chow, the world's most expensive parsnips with starting bids at $3,000 a bushel. In today's world, it wouldn't surprise me! They already sell canned pet food, nuts for parrots, jarred baby food, and even "Halloween fake food truffles candy spooky mini cakes" (starting at $6.99!)
Amazon Sells Fruit, Meat, Ice Cream
New AmazonFresh Online Grocery Store
Trend Themes
1. Online Grocery Stores - The trend of selling groceries online is on the rise, offering opportunities for innovation in home delivery, curbside pickup and smart inventory management technologies.
2. Expansion of Product Line - Businesses can expand their product line with grocery items to attract new customers and increase sales.
3. Organic and Local Foods - The trend of offering organic and locally sourced items in online grocery stores provides disruptive innovation opportunities for local farmers and producers.
Industry Implications
1. E-commerce - E-commerce is a constantly growing industry, offering opportunities for online grocery stores to reach customers in new markets.
2. Logistics and Delivery - Innovation in logistics and delivery can help online grocery stores streamline their processes, enabling faster delivery times and more efficient routes.
3. Food Production and Agriculture - The expanding market of online grocery stores provides opportunities for disruptive innovations in food production and agriculture to meet the increasing demand for organic and locally sourced items.