Lower Prices Part of Amazon's Plans for Whole Foods

SEATTLE — When Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods closes Monday, lower prices and integration with Amazon’s Prime membership program will immediately take effect.

Starting next week, a number of Whole Foods' best-selling grocery staples — including organic bananas, organic large brown eggs, responsibly farmed salmon, almond butter, organic rotisserie chicken, and more — will be less expensive. Under the acquisition, Amazon and Whole Foods plan to roll out lower prices for more popular products in the days to come.

Whole Foods customers who are also Amazon Prime members stand to see even more benefits as a result of the acquisition, as the Amazon Prime membership program will be integrated into the Whole Foods point-of-sale system.

Not only will Prime members get in-store benefits and "special savings," but the program will also give customers access to Amazon Lockers at select Whole Foods locations, and the ability to purchase Whole Foods private-label products through Amazon.com, AmazonFresh, Prime Pantry and Prime Now.

"It’s been our mission for 39 years at Whole Foods Market to bring the highest-quality food to our customers," said John Mackey, Whole Foods co-founder and CEO. "By working together with Amazon and integrating in several key areas, we can lower prices and double down on that mission and reach more people with Whole Foods Market’s high-quality natural and organic food.

"As part of our commitment to quality, we’ll continue to expand our efforts to support and promote local products and suppliers," Mackey added. 

Seattle-based Amazon announced its bid to acquire Austin-based Whole Foods on June 16. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the controversial $13.7 billion transaction on Aug. 23, as did Whole Foods shareholders. 

Click here to read more from Convenience Store News sister publication Progressive Grocer.