In recent years, Amazon has struggled with expanding its empire into the Garden State. The multi-billion dollar e-commerce attempted expansion to the East Coast back in 2019 by opening a headquarters out in Queens, which was met with criticism. Even more recently, Amazon entered into negotiations with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to acquire a cargo hub at Newark International Airport that ultimately ended unsuccessfully. However, this year, Amazon opened one — and soon more — new Amazon Fresh locations, and even though we love our local, we were genuinely curious.
Recently, we checked out the newly-opened spot in Paramus to see what it’s like shopping there. Read on to learn more about Amazon Fresh, now open at 30 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, New Jersey.
About Amazon Fresh
Many consumers know Amazon Fresh as a grocery delivery service through their Prime accounts. However, in August of 2020, Amazon Fresh opened its first storefront location in Woodland Hills, California. Since then, the supermarket chain now has 35 locations throughout the country.
Amazon Fresh is not the only grocery venture Amazon has made. The giant e-commerce platform also owns Whole Foods, and while Whole Foods bans products containing artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial colors and flavors, Amazon Fresh features many mainstream products.
Amazon Fresh gives shoppers the option to purchase groceries digitally by scanning in and scanning out — or you can still shop the traditional way.
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Amazon Fresh Features + Technology
Amazon Fresh gained its popularity from its ‘Just Walk Out’ feature that allows shoppers to skip the lines at check out by simply scanning their QR code in the Amazon app.
Up until this year, Just Walk Out customers were prompted to use The Amazon Dash Cart. The Dash Cart would use computer algorithms and various sensor functions to identify items that customers placed into their carts.
Amazon has updated its technology in the stores to remove the need for the Dash Cart. Instead, the Just Walk Out system uses hundreds (if not thousands) of ceiling-mounted cameras and artificial intelligence to track customer selections that will automatically charge their Amazon account when they leave.
When ready to check out, shoppers walk through a special ‘Just Walk Out’ Lane and scan their QR code once more for payment processing.
In addition to Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Fresh allows customers to return their Amazon purchases in-store, ask Alexa where products are located in the store and for grocery suggestions, and purchase various Amazon devices such as Kindles and Echos.
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Amazon Fresh in New Jersey
On Thursday, July 21st, the retailer opened its first Amazon Fresh in New Jersey. The 40,000-square-foot store is located in a former Fairway Market in Paramus, NJ. The store offers Just Walk Out shopping and is open 7AM to 10PM, seven days a week.
Paramus is not the only North Jersey location expected to open an Amazon Fresh. According to NorthJersey.com, Amazon Fresh signs were up at the former Kmart site on Memorial Drive in Lodi. Additionally, Amazon purchased a previous Fairway Market building in Woodland Park that is also now home to Amazon Fresh signage.
New Jersey is expected to open another additional two locations, according to Asbury Park Press. The stores will be located on Route 35 in Holmdel and Route 35 in Eatontown.
At this time, there is no expected opening date for the additional locations. And no, this isn’t a sponsored post — we’re genuinely just curious.
