Amazon set to sell private label coffee

The US-based online retailer Amazon has announced plans to launch a range of private label products including coffee, tea, nuts, spices and baby food.  The announcement marks a significant expansion of scope for Amazon, which started life as an online bookstore. It is not yet known how Amazon intends to pitch the new products, though they will initially be offered only to members of its US$99 per year Prime program, which gives customers one click ordering and preferential delivery. Media reports suggest that this latest development could be a strategic move to boost Amazon’s delivery volumes, in turn facilitating the growth of its logistics networks to continue growing its capacity for quicker order fulfillment. The new products will also complement Amazon’s grocery delivery business, which is currently running in a number of US cities.