• Amazon plans series of convenience stores in US, reports claim
  • Designers reportedly taking inspiration from Aldi and Lidl
  • Drive-through locations for pick-ups also planned, reports say

Amazon has tabled plans to build a series of bricks-and-mortar grocery convenience stores in the US, according to reports.

The designers of the new corner stores, which will stock items such as milk, meat, orange juice and newspapers, are said to be taking inspiration from Aldi and Lidl, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The plan, believed to be code-named ‘Project Como’, could also include drive-through sites allowing customers to pick up groceries ordered online that day.

The news is likely to give rise to speculation that Amazon will eventually launch a physical presence in the UK after it rolled out its ‘Fresh’ food delivery service in London earlier this year.

In the US, speculation has mounted over the food store plans after documents labelled “Amazon” at a construction site in Seattle appear to show work on the first shop has started.

The stores will reportedly be for the exclusive use of customers of Amazon’s Fresh food delivery service, available for $15 a month on top of Amazon Prime’s $99 annual fee.

Amazon launched its first bricks-and-mortar presence in the US last year with the opening of a bookstore in its home town of Seattle.

Other bookshops are believed to be planned for San Diego, New York, Portland and Chicago.

Amazon has declined to comment on the latest speculation, it was reported.

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