Amazon Expands 30-Minute Delivery Network With Micro-Fulfillment Centers

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5.19.2026

Quick Facts

Amazon Now 30-minute delivery service launched widely in May 2026 after successful pilots in Philadelphia and Seattle
Micro-fulfillment centers stock 3,500 items and are about the size of a Walgreens retail outlet
Amazon crossed one billion items delivered same-day or overnight in 2026 and claims to be the second-largest U.S. grocer

Amazon launched its 30-minute delivery service Amazon Now widely across multiple U.S. cities in May 2026. The service now operates in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, and Seattle, with rapid expansion planned for Austin, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Denver, and Oklahoma City.

The expansion relies on a growing network of micro-fulfillment centers positioned near customers. These facilities are about the size of a Walgreens retail outlet and stock approximately 3,500 fresh grocery, personal care, electronics, and household items.

Amazon built over 85 Same Day Fulfillment Centers across the U.S. and delivered more than 500 million same-day units in 2026. The company crossed one billion items delivered same-day or overnight this year.

CEO Andy Jassy highlighted Amazon’s grocery market position during the latest earnings call. The company is now the second-largest U.S. grocer with more than $150 billion in gross sales in 2025. That figure includes grocery delivery, Whole Foods Market, and nonperishable grocery items sold on its marketplace.

The micro-fulfillment strategy builds on Amazon’s international success. In India, Amazon operates more than 360 micro-fulfillment centers where Amazon Now orders increase 25% month-over-month. Prime members triple their shopping frequency once they start using the service.

One pilot facility demonstrates the technology behind the expansion. Amazon constructed a 10,000-square-foot automated micro-fulfillment center in the back of a Whole Foods store in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. The facility stores 12,000 unique items and uses robotics from Fulfil to prepare orders within minutes.

Amazon faces competition from Walmart, which captured 31.6% of U.S. grocery ecommerce sales in 2025 compared to Amazon’s 22.6%. Walmart increased orders delivered in under three hours by more than 60% in 2025, leveraging its 4,600 stores as local fulfillment centers.

The micro-fulfillment expansion supports Amazon’s broader delivery strategy. While Amazon Now targets 30-minute delivery for thousands of items, Prime Air aims to deliver a larger selection within 30 minutes using drones. Amazon plans to serve 30 million Prime Air customers by year-end.