In a company announcement, Amazon Stores CEO Doug Herrington named Jason Buechel to the newly expanded role of leading Worldwide Grocery Stores (WWGS), while maintaining his current position as CEO of Whole Foods Market (WFM). Buechel will join the Stores Leadership Team and report directly to Herrington.
Buechel is a seasoned grocery industry veteran, having joined Whole Foods Market in 2013.
Before his CEO role, he served as COO, overseeing all WFM physical stores, technology, supply chain, distribution, store real estate and design, and HR functions. 1 Under his leadership as CEO, WFM achieved record sales growth and expanded to over 535 locations, making high-quality natural and organic groceries more affordable and accessible.
This appointment comes after Amazon established a unified WW Grocery Stores organization in 2022, aiming to streamline grocery shopping for customers. The company has already made significant progress in integrating its vast grocery selection across its logistics network and creating a more seamless experience, especially for Prime members. Buechel is tasked with continuing this momentum.
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Buechel to Drive Growth Across Amazon’s Grocery Ecosystem
“I am incredibly energized by our momentum in grocery,” said Herrington in the announcement. He highlighted the success of the new Grocery Subscription service and the company’s continued focus on selection and value across Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Go. The redesigned Amazon Fresh stores and innovative shopping experiences, like the one in Phoenix where customers can purchase groceries alongside millions of other Amazon products for same-day delivery, were also mentioned.
“Jason will be a fantastic leader to take the team forward and deliver on the solid 2025 plans the team has built,” Herrington concluded. The announcement assured that Claire Peters and Anand Varadarajan will continue in their respective leadership roles, overseeing Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, Grocery Partnerships, and product and technology for WWGS.
This leadership change signifies Amazon’s commitment to growth and innovation in the grocery sector. With Buechel’s experience and the team’s established plans, Amazon is poised to make further strides in simplifying, expediting, and enhancing its customers’ grocery shopping experience.