SEATTLE, WA - Our industry has come a long way in the world of online shopping, few so far as Amazon. Once known almost solely for its book delivery, it has expanded its portfolio and continues to do so into fresh produce. With the current demands of today's coronavirus changing the way consumers shop, Amazon is evolving further by ramping up its personnel while its affiliates implement increased safety protocols and resources.

According to Amazon's COVID-19 Blog, the company announced it is planning on hiring 75,000 more team members in order to fill the surging need for delivery and warehouse stocking.

Amazon and Whole Foods have enacted several new strategies to combat the effects of COVID-19, including the hiring of 75,000 new team members

According to an update on Amazon’s site, the e-tailer also listed several new ways it’s getting groceries to shoppers during the COVID-19 crisis, including:

• Temporary changes to in-store offerings, which include no longer allowing personal, reusable containers, no self-serve offerings or sampling, and seating areas are temporarily unavailable
• Expanded Whole Foods Market grocery pickup from roughly 80 stores to more than 150 and will continue to expand grocery pickup in the coming weeks
• Adjusted store hours for select Whole Foods Market locations to focus exclusively on fulfilling online grocery orders during this time
• Since March 16, hired more than 100,000 people, including for grocery delivery
• Invested more than $500 million to support employees and partners during the crisis
• Opened its Woodland Hills, California, grocery store as a temporary online-only store, focused exclusively on fulfilling grocery delivery orders.
• Implemented a waitlist for Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivery

In the coming weeks, Amazon announced it will launch a new feature that will allow customers to secure time to shop. This feature will give delivery customers a virtual “place in line” and will allow the e-tailer to distribute the delivery windows on a first-come, first-served basis.

As more news comes to light in the retail and fresh produce space, keep an eye out for AndNowUKnow.

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