Amazon Will Build 1,000 Fulfillment Centers by 2031

The company aims to increase order frequency and compete with local retailers through faster delivery options.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Retail

Isometric editorial illustration of a modular warehouse building surrounded by empty concrete loading docks, symbolizing logistics infrastructure expansion. — Amazon has launched 'Project Mercury,' a massive infrastructure initiative to construct 1,000 new fulfillment centers across the United States by 2031. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you plan to pay for convenience memberships to get faster product delivery?

Amazon has announced an expansive building project, Project Mercury, to launch 1,000 new same-day fulfillment centers by 2031. This initiative intends to boost customer purchase frequency for everyday items by leveraging a faster, localized delivery network.

Why it matters

By scaling its infrastructure, Amazon is aggressively challenging Walmart’s physical proximity to customers across the country. The shift reflects a strategic push to capture more frequent shopping trips by reducing wait times to meet rising consumer expectations for delivery speed.

Order frequency in markets with new fulfillment centers grew 18% between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026, while markets with same-day grocery delivery saw an 11% increase.

The players

Amazon

Amazon is a multinational technology and retail company that operates one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms.

Walmart

Walmart is a global retail corporation that operates a massive chain of physical hypermarkets and grocery stores.

The details

Amazon has introduced dedicated storefront pages and search filters to help users navigate 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options now available in thousands of cities. Data shows that in regions with these centers, the share of shoppers placing three or more orders per week has risen from 13% to 19%.

The baseline period for order frequency tracking occurred in the first half of 2025.
Data tracking concluded following the first half of 2026.
Project Mercury fulfillment centers are scheduled for completion by 2031.

Transportation
Sept. 29
Nordstrom Pursued Seven-Day Delivery Options
Spending
Sept. 28
High-Income Shoppers Increased Discount Retailer Use
Transportation
Sept. 28
Amazon Launched Standard Ocean Express Service

Market Landscape

Amazon's infrastructure build-out follows the pattern identified in the 2026 Finance Buzz survey on delivery expectations, which highlights that consumers now expect free delivery in an average of 2.7 days. This expansion marks a direct attempt to bridge the convenience gap between digital e-commerce and traditional physical retail footprints.

Shoppers can expect a wider availability of 1-hour and 3-hour delivery options as new fulfillment centers come online in their local markets. These changes may simplify daily purchasing for household essentials, though shoppers should account for the monthly costs associated with convenience memberships.

The takeaway

Retailers are increasingly pivoting toward hyper-localized distribution to mirror the accessibility of brick-and-mortar stores. Consumers looking to save time may benefit from these faster shipping models, provided they weigh the recurring membership fees against the value of immediate delivery.