Amazon's next move could reshape how America shops — all over again
Amazon plans 1,000 same-day fulfillment centers to challenge Walmart and bring inventory within 10 miles of most Prime customers in the US.
Amazon is planning to build over 1,000 same-day delivery centers by 2031, aiming to put hubs within a 10-mile radius of most Amazon Prime customers in the US. This expansion, codenamed Project Mercury, could challenge Walmart's physical delivery advantage and reshape American retail habits. The initiative would involve significant investment and could potentially make Amazon a stronger competitor in everyday shopping, particularly in areas such as fresh food, paper towels, and cough medicine.
Currently, Amazon's same-day delivery network serves more than 10,000 cities and towns, including rural communities. However, the company's same-day orders are not exclusively fulfilled through SSD facilities. This plan could help Amazon challenge Walmart's physical presence, as about 90% of the US population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart or Sam's Club.
Amazon has been working on various strategies to improve delivery speeds, such as Project Kobe, an all-day delivery model, and drone delivery service Prime Air.
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