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Amazon exec downplays grocery issues

Shoppers and staff members at in a Whole Foods produce section
Shoppers and employee in a Denver Whole Foods. Photos: John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Amazon Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky brushed aside worries about out-of-stock items at Whole Foods and misfires in the company's Fresh grocery delivery product.

Why it matters: Amazon's further push into the perishable groceries business after the purchase of Whole Foods is being closely watched.

What they're saying:

  • Olsavsky said on an earnings call that the company hadn't made any changes to Whole Foods that would have led to the stocking issues reported at some Whole Foods stores.
  • He said lower prices Amazon instituted after its purchase of the grocery chain and weather could have contributed to the issue.
  • Olsavsky said that any problems with Amazon Fresh would be addressed. "Where there’s issues, they’ll be corrected," he said. Recode reported in November that the company thinks the U.S. Postal Service is responsible for problems that led them to shut down the service in some markets.
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