The news: Amazon is gaining share in perishable grocery, according to Nielsen IQ data reported by Business Insider.

• Sales of seafood, dairy, and produce rose “severalfold” between June and August, per the report.
• The company’s share of total and online food sales rose 0.6% YoY and 1.6% YoY, respectively, in the 12 months through late August. Grocery stores lost 1% of total food share and 0.6% of online food share in the same period.

What it means: The numbers back up what Amazon has been saying for months. Since rolling out its same-day perishable delivery offering, sales of groceries and everyday essentials have grown meaningfully faster than the rest of Amazon’s ecommerce business. The number of active customers who buy perishables monthly is up more than 50% since the beginning of 2026, while fresh groceries now account for six of the top 20 bestsellers on Amazon’s site, CEO Andy Jassy said on the company’s Q2 earnings call.

Amazon’s grocery push is especially popular among high-income shoppers with household incomes of over $100,000, as well as older customers, according to Nielsen IQ. Customers who buy fresh foods on Amazon also tend to order more frequently and spend more money with the retailer, showing perishables can boost engagement and unlock additional spending from shoppers.

Implications for grocery: Amazon’s perishables push is threatening traditional grocers’ hold on routine food purchases, as many have limited means of challenging the retailer’s scale and delivery might. Amazon’s reported plans to vastly expand the number of same-day fulfillment centers it operates would extend that threat to more markets, which would only strengthen its hold on grocery ecommerce.