Whole Foods CEO says grocery will turn Amazon from the ‘everything store’ into the ‘everyday store’

Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel recently spoke with Fortune in an interview about the future of Amazon's grocery business. Buechel argues that Amazon, traditionally known as the "everything store," should now be considered the "everyday store" by focusing on the grocery sector. He emphasized the importance of greater engagement and interaction with customers in the grocery space.

Buechel revealed that Amazon has committed $230 million to provide higher pay, benefits, and college perks for over 100,000 Whole Foods workers, a move in line with the company's roots. Co-founder John Mackey previously capped executive salaries at 19 times the average worker pay before selling the chain to Amazon in 2017.

The CEO also discussed the cost of convenience, pointing out the chaotic nature of delivery vehicles in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed the Delivery Protection Act to address this issue, while Buechel aims for predictability over speed in delivery services.

When it comes to technology, Buechel admitted that Amazon may have been slightly ahead of customer expectations. He noted that some physical stores, such as Whole Foods, Amazon Go, and others, have either been discontinued or reevaluated due to a lack of customer interest in no formal checkout experience. Buechel believes they will pivot towards their same-day focus in grocery and get it right.