Amazon gives further insight into Australia plans

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Mar 29, 2017

The US retail mogul has lifted the lid -- just a little, on its entry plans for Australia this week, saying it plans to offer its full range of products, but retail capabilities won't be fully operational in the country until the end of 2018.

According to local media, Amazon plans to sell in Australia its full range of products, not just food, including fashion, electronics, takeaway and groceries. Amazon will sell products from its flagship website, and will also launch an Australian version of its Prime Now program, which provides fast shipping to members, reported the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.

It will also offer Amazon Fresh, its online grocery delivery service. However, Amazon hasn't committed opening bricks and mortar grocery stores locally, much like its Amazon Go store, which bowed officially to the public this week in Seattle, USA.

An Amazon executive supporting Amazon's grocery rollout globally told Fairfax Media the retailer will "launch as many services and products as possible within Australia" as it views the country as an "attractive" market.

However, it will "build physical grocery stores and launch Amazon Go only after Amazon has become more established in the country and analysis determines the market will support physical stores," Brittain Ladd, senior manager, Amazon Global Logistics, told Fairfax Media.