Amazon Plan For Same-Day Expansion Revealed
Leaked documents show Amazon plans to grow its same-day delivery network to over 1,000 sites by 2031.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Business Strategy
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Amazon intends to expand its Sub Same-Day fulfillment center network to more than 1,000 locations to compete with Walmart. Internal documents codenamed Project Mercury detail the ambitious strategy to bring fulfillment centers within 10 miles of most Prime subscribers.
Why it matters
The move aims to counter Walmart's geographic advantage by placing logistics hubs closer to consumers. By reaching 80% of U.S. Prime subscribers with same-day shipping, Amazon seeks to secure its dominance in the retail delivery market.
Amazon has earmarked $6.8 billion for same-day capacity from 2026 to 2027, part of an annual retail capital budget estimated near $50 billion. Each planned 100,000-square-foot facility is designed to process 75,000 units daily.
The players
Amazon
Amazon is a multinational technology and retail company that provides e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming services.
Bank of America
Bank of America is a major American investment bank and financial services holding company.
Walmart
Walmart is a multinational retail corporation that operates a large chain of hypermarkets and discount department stores.
The details
Project Mercury outlines a major infrastructure push to bring Amazon delivery facilities within a 10-mile radius of the vast majority of U.S. households. This expansion is expected to handle approximately 28% of total Amazon-fulfilled unit volume by 2029.
Timeline
Sept. 16, 2026: Bank of America issued a buy rating and documents were leaked.
2026-2027: The planned period for a $6.8 billion capacity investment.
2029: The estimated year when same-day sites handle 28% of volume.
2030: The projected breakeven point for the delivery initiative.
2031: The target year for reaching 1,000 Sub Same-Day sites.
Market Landscape
Project Mercury marks a departure from centralized warehousing, signaling a structural shift toward hyper-local logistics. This positions Amazon to aggressively challenge the long-standing geographic retail footprint established by competitors like Walmart.
Consumers can expect faster delivery times as Amazon expands its fulfillment footprint closer to major population centers. While the strategy focuses on operational efficiency, it aims to keep Amazon competitive with the physical convenience offered by traditional big-box retailers.
The takeaway
Amazon is doubling down on proximity to drive consumer loyalty through rapid delivery speeds. Investors and customers should monitor the rollout to see if these facilities meet the projected efficiency goals by 2030.
Further reading
Learn more about corporate trends in Business Strategy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Idaho Statesman.
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