The online site, which has launched today in beta, stocks a range of over 20,000 groceries, including big brands such as Walkers and Persil. The site also stocks international and specialist items as well as fruit and vegetables and meat and poultry.
As the site is in beta Amazon said that it will be testing different features and gathering feedback from customers. It added that it would also be working to add new ranges and brands to the store.
"Amazon.co.uk’s aim is to be the place where customers can find and discover any product they want to buy online, and with the introduction of this new store there are thousands of household, niche, ethnic and international grocery items, all available at the click of a button," said James Leeson, director of grocery at Amazon.co.uk.
"With unlimited virtual shelf space, customers can choose from a wide variety of products, all of which benefit from free delivery. We will work tirelessly to increase the selection of grocery items available to be delivered directly to customers’ doors."
Delivery options include unlimited free One-Day Delivery for an annual membership fee of £49 with Amazon Prime and Free Super Saver Delivery for 3-5 day deliveries.
Retail specialist IGD predicts that the online grocery channel will almost double over the next few years from £3.7bn to £7.2bn in 2014.
Gavin Rothwell, UK research manager at IGD said: "This move provides Amazon with an opportunity to leverage its tremendous online brand strength in a new market. Its established model in non-food gives Amazon scope to provide an effective route to market for certain grocery product categories."
Of the largest four supermarkets in the UK, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s all have an online grocery offering, whilst Morrisons however does not. The retailer instead currently chooses to concentrate on its UK expansion rather than pursuing sales through the digital space.
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