The launch of these centres comes ahead of the festive season. These centres are aimed at reducing the delivery time and opening up more opportunities for local sellers and communities in the state.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Srikanth Sree Ram, director, Amazon Fresh, Amazon India, said: “The objective of setting up these centres is to improve the delivery speed and create more opportunities for people in this state itself.”
Tamil Nadu has become one of Amazon’s strongest markets, with over one lakh of its 16 lakh sellers nationwide coming from the state. “In Tamil Nadu alone, we operate over 1,500 “I Have Space” locations (a programme enabling local entrepreneurs with available space to work for Amazon.” Amazon places packages at these locations and the entrepreneurs handle delivery to customers, contributing to a nationwide network of more than 28,000. “Our workforce reflects significant diversity, with over 32 per cent being women associates. We have more than 200 individuals with disabilities across various roles,” he added.
In Chennai, the company’s grocery arm, Amazon Fresh, according to Srikanth Sree Ram, has emerged as a game-changer. It offers two-hour delivery slots for everything from fruits, vegetables, milk and bread to pantry staples.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of fruits and vegetables. We have a very thorough four-step quality check process… which allows us to make sure that we are providing unmatched quality,” he said.
According to him, shoppers in Chennai are also showing a distinct shift in consumption patterns. The festive baskets this year are tilted towards wellness and premium picks. “There is a marked shift in Chennai towards more premium and wellness-led choices. Whether it’s avocados, exotic fruits, or dry fruits, most of them are growing at more than 100 per cent year-on-year,” he said. Products like sunscreens, supplements and sugar substitutes are also climbing steadily, reflecting a wider trend of mindful shopping.
He said that Amazon Fresh was closely tied to Tamil Nadu’s farming community. The company runs two collection centres in Olakkur and Uralipatti, sourcing directly from over 500 farmers. Tender coconuts from the state have even become one of the most in-demand items nationwide. “One of the most unique products that is extensively sourced in Tamil Nadu, in fact, sells across the country as well, is tender coconut. It’s quite often sourced in this catchment area and fulfils customer demand not just in Tamil Nadu but all over India,” he said.
