Amazon Introduces Rapid Prime Delivery in Smaller Urban Areas, Rural Towns, and Remote Communities Nationwide in the United States
In a significant move, Seattle-based Amazon, ranked No. 2 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer's 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, is expanding its rapid delivery services to over 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities across the United States by the end of 2025. This expansion aims to make daily life easier for rural customers who typically have fewer product and brand choices and limited delivery options.
To achieve this ambitious goal, Amazon is investing more than $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by the end of 2026. This investment will enhance operational efficiency by building out more fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and transportation resources that can support faster deliveries to remote locations.
Amazon's expansion is not limited to specific locations. It includes areas such as Monmouth, Iowa, and rural communities, as well as downtown Los Angeles. The company is turning existing rural delivery stations into hybrid hubs serving multiple functions. This strategic move will ensure that customers in these areas can shop a huge selection of affordable and speed-critical groceries and household items.
The number of items delivered the same or next day in the United States has increased by more than 30% this year compared to the year-ago period, according to Amazon. Prime members have access to unlimited free same-day delivery when spending more than $25 at checkout. Shoppers can look for "free delivery today" next to product names while shopping on Amazon.
Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores, noted that everyone loves fast delivery, and the expansion ensures the same fantastic Amazon customer experience for all customers, regardless of location. Amazon is using advanced machine-learning algorithms to predict which items will likely be popular with local Prime members, further enhancing the service's convenience.
Amazon's fast delivery speeds helped its everyday essentials selection grow more than twice as fast as all other categories in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2025. The company was named among PG's Retailers of the Century and appeared on its Most Sustainable Grocers list, underscoring its commitment to both customer service and environmental responsibility.
Customers can find out whether their area offers same-day delivery by going online and browsing by category, price point, and retail store. This expansion marks a major push to reach underserved markets and tap into growing demand for expedited shipping beyond urban centers. Amazon's efforts to get even faster in 2025 follow record-breaking speeds in 2023 and 2024.
Technology plays a crucial role in Amazon's expansion as advanced machine-learning algorithms are used to predict popular items among local Prime members, enhancing the service's convenience. The investment in the delivery network also aims to build out more fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and transportation resources that can support faster deliveries to remote locations, relying on technology for operation efficiency.
