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Update: This story was updated at 9:56 a.m. Aug. 22, 2024, with a photo of the now-open Amazon Fresh in Lodi. Read the original story below, published Aug. 8.

Amazon Fresh is preparing to launch its third New Jersey store.

Scheduled to open Aug. 22 at 2 Memorial Drive in Lodi, the 40,000-square-foot supermarket will offer a wide selection of quality groceries. The shopping experience will also include smart carts, Alexa-powered kiosks and pay-by-palm technology.

According to the company, customers can expect to find national brands, produce and protein, along with Amazon’s private label brands, like Aplenty, Fresh Brand and 365 by Whole Foods Market — all at low prices.

Additionally, Amazon Fresh will carry a range of prepared foods made fresh in-store daily, such as grab & go sandwiches and salads, snack boxes and ready-made meals. A dedicated department will offer crackers, cheeses and charcuterie from local and national brands, while an international flavors area will feature condiments and sauces from around the world.

According to Amazon, shoppers can save up to 30% on 4,000 weekly rotating grocery items across the aisles both in-store and online. Prime members also have access to exclusive savings offering 10% off hundreds of additional products.

A new approach

Same day grocery delivery and free pickup services are available, too. Following the grand opening, Amazon Fresh in Lodi will be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Aside from providing the community with a new, affordable grocery store, the Seattle-based e-commerce giant says the location creates dozens of local jobs. Amazon Fresh in Lodi also says it will donate surplus food from the store to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

The launch comes two months after the chain’s long-awaited second store opened in Eatontown. It marks two years after Amazon Fresh’s in-state debut in Paramus.

Soon after the first New Jersey store opened in July 2022, Amazon Fresh revealed plans to add locations in Lodi, Eatontown, Holmdel and Woodland Park. However, those were among sites put on hold when the company announced in February 2023 that it was rethinking strategy to improve shopper appeal. 

By November 2023, Amazon was back with a new approach. That included a revamped store format, larger grocery selection, expanded online access and more self-checkout stations.

‘Committed to grocery’

As part of those changes, Amazon removed its Just Walk Out cashierless checkout system from its 44 Amazon Fresh stores in the U.S. Additionally, it was taken out of Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods Market’s locations in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Glover Park, Washington, D.C. — the only two stores offering the technology.

Now, the two banners rely more heavily on Dash Carts. The innovation tracks and tallies items as they are put into carts. Customers can see their spending in real time, as well as skip the checkout line.

According to the company, the new Lodi store features the updated concept.

Additional details on any other future New Jersey openings was not provided. However, Amazon said it remains “committed to grocery and will selectively open new Amazon Fresh stores as we see positive customer feedback on the new format.” The company also said it will continue to add new Whole Foods Market locations.

“Amazon already has a large online grocery business and millions of products available for fast delivery, but if you want to serve as many grocery needs as we do, you have to offer customers great selection, value, and convenience—not just online, but in physical stores,” the company said, adding, “At Amazon, our goal is to deliver the best selection, value and convenience to customers when it comes to grocery shopping – whether that is in store or online. We have many different customers with many different needs and we want to save them time and money so they can focus on what matters most.”