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On January 12, 2026, Amazon announced plans to open its first large-scale “big-box” supermarket in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. This area of nearly 229,000 square feet will make it possible to offer both food products, non-food goods, services and the possibility of collecting online orders directly in store. The aim is to merge online commerce and physical retail experience to meet consumer expectations.
The project has been approved by the local authorities, but construction has not yet begun and no official opening date has been communicated. Amazon already has several physical formats such as Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market, but this supermarket represents the first very large supercenter store comparable to a Walmart or Target. This nuance is important for understanding Amazon's strategic positioning in physical retail.
The concept combines a large assortment, competitive prices and flexible logistics services, including online order pick-up and local delivery. The initiative is part of Amazon's omnichannel strategy, which is already visible with its Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market stores, as well as experiments with Amazon Go or pop-up stores. The aim is to strengthen Amazon's overall ecosystem by increasing the points of contact with customers.
This supermarket offers Amazon the opportunity to capture additional market shares in the food and general sector, where proximity, shopping experience and timeliness remain essential. For entrepreneurs, this initiative highlights the importance of combining physical and digital presence, and demonstrates that even e-commerce leaders consider physical commerce to be a major strategic lever.
This project is not without its challenges. Amazon has already closed some physical formats in the past, and is facing intense competition, high logistics costs, and varied consumer habits across regions. Success will depend on its ability to offer a differentiated customer journey, to effectively integrate online and offline, and to justify regular visits thanks to a solid value proposition.
