Weis Markets said last week that its decision to have Amazon fulfill delivery orders for them has helped the chain improve its in-store operations, gain more insight into its e-commerce business, and reach shoppers in areas beyond the reach of its store footprint.
“When Amazon approached us about becoming a grocery partner, they gave us an idea of what they thought that sales volume might be, and we kind of looked at them sideways and said, ‘We’re not sure if that makes sense or not,'” according to Weis Markets CIO and SVP Greg Zeh.
However, Zeh said Amazon’s e-commerce expertise brought “some very good discipline to the organization” and helped Weis sharpen its ability to manage online orders.
Weis is currently working with Amazon to service orders from 23 sites, representing 75% of the grocer’s footprint. The grocer also works with Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Shipt.
In a Supermarket News article, Zeh explained that Weis has added shoppers in markets that were beyond its reach before joining forces with Amazon. He added that this expanded customer base could help the company build its e-commerce volume to the point where it may consider investing in micro-fulfillment equipment.
Amazon is also helping Weis drive foot traffic to its supermarkets via Amazon lockers, and Zeh said they may also agree at some point to accept Amazon returns in its stores.
