Amazon is ratcheting up fast delivery and raising the stakes for rivals like Walmart

Group 1 - Amazon achieved a record delivery of over 13 billion items worldwide in 2025, marking its fastest performance and the third consecutive year of record-breaking deliveries [1] - In the US, Prime members received over 8 billion same or next-day deliveries, representing a more than 30% increase from 2024, with groceries and everyday essentials making up about half of those orders [1] - Amazon delivered a record 4 billion grocery and everyday essential items in the US with a significant expansion of free same-day and next-day delivery to over 4,000 smaller cities and towns [2] Group 2 - The competition in retail delivery speed has intensified, with Amazon's expansion positioning it more directly against Walmart, which utilizes its extensive store network for same-day delivery [2][3] - Amazon has been innovating its logistics network, including larger same-day warehouses and micro-fulfillment centers within select Whole Foods stores [4] - In its latest earnings report, Amazon reported approximately $67 billion in net sales from online stores for the quarter [4]