30-Minute Delivery to Houston: AMZNing Amazon Brings

In Seattle, Amazon.com is expanding its Amazon Now ultra-fast delivery service to dozens of cities including Houston by year end.

The Seattle-based online retailer reported the rollout of the Amazon Now service, which provides thousands of fresh groceries and everyday essentials in about 30 minutes or less, to millions of customers across the U.S.

Amazon uses a network of “micro fulfillment centers”, smaller locations close to where customers live and work, to expedite delivery.

“Amazon Now is for when you need or want the convenience of getting your Amazon order delivered in 30 minutes or less,” said Udit Madan, Senior Vice President, Amazon Worldwide Operations. “With thousands of items available for ultra-fast delivery, you can get everything from groceries for dinner, to AirPods before a flight, to household essentials like laundry detergent or toothpaste delivered right to your door. Amazon Now complements Amazon’s existing fast-delivery offerings, including 1-hour and 3-hour delivery on more than 90,000 products and Same-Day Delivery on millions of items.”

Amazon Now is widely available in Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, and Seattle. It is expanding in dozens of cities including, Houston, Austin, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Denver, and Oklahoma City. Amazon Now is available 24 hours a day in most service areas.

Other retailers are also racing to make quick deliveries. Walmart last year expanded its drone delivery service to Houston after testing it in Dallas and Bentonville, Ark. Launched in 2021, the service makes 30-minute or less deliveries within a six-mile radius of participating stores.

Amazon Now service is available in select markets across nine countries.