Amazon gearing up to expand Amazon Fresh stores

Amazon is bringing its new grocery store format Amazon Fresh to the suburbs of Chicago.

The company is looking to fill some 1,500 positions at four stores planned for Illinois communities of Naperville, Bloomingdale, Oak Lawn, and Schaumburg. The first Amazon Fresh high-tech grocery store opened in Woodland Hills, Calif., in August 2020. 

The e-tail giant designed the format from the ground up to offer a seamless shopping experience with extra perks for members of the Amazon Prime paid loyalty program. Shoppers who prefer to skip the queue have the option of using the Amazon Dash Cart, and can also use Amazon Alexa voice technology and Alexa shopping lists.

Amazon previously announced it plans to open another Amazon Fresh store in North Hollywood, Calif., and is reported to be opening a location in Whittier, Calif. Interested candidates can visit amazonstores.jobs to learn more and apply. 

“Our associates are the heart and soul of our Amazon Fresh stores, and we’re excited to welcome 1,500 employees to the team as we provide customers with new, low-priced grocery stores in their communities,” said Catherine Misko, regional manager of Amazon Fresh grocery stores. “These are great jobs with industry-leading pay and benefits, and we’re proud to provide a safe, innovative work environment where associates can grow their careers.” 

Since 2010, Amazon says it has invested more than $8 billion across the state of Illinois, including infrastructure (such as 28 Whole Foods Market locations and seven Amazon Go store locations) and compensation for its more than 23,000 employees. According to Amazon, these investments have helped create more than 20,500 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires.