(Reuters) – E-commerce giant Amazon.com (NASDAQ:) on Tuesday launched a new grocery delivery subscription in the United States for members of its Prime program and customers who are recipients of government food assistance benefits.
The subscription plan will allow Amazon Prime members to receive unlimited grocery delivery for $9.99 per month on orders over $35 from Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and other local grocery and specialty retailers on the platform, including Save Mart, Bartell Drugs, Rite Aid (NYSE:) and Pet Food Express.
The service will be available in more than 3,500 cities and towns across the country.
Low-income citizens who rely on the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to support their grocery budget will have to pay a reduced fee of $4.99 per month for the same benefits and do not require a Prime membership, according to the statement Amazon.com.
The move is part of the company’s efforts to expand its fresh food business in a space already occupied by players like Walmart (NYSE:) and Target, which also have paid membership programs.
Walmart Plus offers plans for $12.95 per month or an annual plan for $98.
Amazon’s offer also includes one-hour delivery windows at no extra cost and unlimited 30-minute pickup for orders of any size.
The move comes after successful trials of the subscription plan in Denver, Colorado, Sacramento, California, Columbus and Ohio last year, the company added.