Amazon launches waitlist for food deliveries amid growing demand

Customers looking to Amazon as a way to purchase groceries amid the coronavirus pandemic will have to have patience, because they'll be put on a waitlist.

In its daily blog published April 12, the ecommerce company said it is temporarily requesting new customers seeking Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market delivery and pickup services to sign up for an invitation to do so.

» RELATED: Amazon hiring 75,000 more workers to keep up with growing demand

“We’re increasing capacity each week and will invite new customers to shop every week,” Amazon said.

The company further noted it had increased order capacity by more than 60% during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company expects customer demand and social distancing-induced “restricted capacity” to keep challenging customers when it comes to finding available delivery windows.

Still, there are plans in place to assist in that area.

» RELATED: YOUR MONEY: Resources during the coronavirus pandemic

Amazon will launch a new feature in the coming weeks that will give customers the chance to lock in time to shop. It will provide delivery customers with a virtual “place in line.” The feature will also give Amazon the ability to “distribute the delivery windows on a first come, first served basis,” it said. “Simultaneously, we will continue to add capacity as swiftly as possible.”

Among the other changes Amazon is making with its food delivery services is modifying hours at select Whole Foods stores to zero in on fulfilling online grocery orders. Whole Foods Market grocery pickups have grown from about 80 stores to more than 150 in recent weeks, Amazon said.

» RELATED: Kempner: Amazon, here's $1 billion. Please, bring Atlanta 50,000 jobs

The food delivery shifts come after Amazon announced it was hiring for 75,000 more jobs to meet growing customer demand. It has already hired more than 100,000 people since March 16.

"We know many people have been economically impacted as jobs in areas like hospitality, restaurants, and travel are lost or furloughed as part of this crisis and we welcome anyone out of work to join us at Amazon until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back," the company said in the April 12 blog.

People interested in taking the job are invited to apply at www.amazon.com/jobsnow.