Amazon shares gain as internet giant agrees French grocery deal

Amazon shares closed higher Monday, as the global internet giant agreed a grocery deal with French store, Monoprix. The agreement will see Monoprix groceries available to customers in Paris and nearby areas, through Amazon Prime Now delivery services.

Amazon shares ended the Monday US trading session 4.03% higher at $1,555.86. The stock is also in the green in after-hours activity.

Grocery deliveries available this year

The agreement between Amazon and Casino Group-owned Monoprix, should see customers of the French grocer being able to order their food through the Amazon Prime Now app, later this year.

“Thanks to this collaboration Amazon Prime Now customers will be able to access thousands of grocery items sourced from Monoprix: store brand (including Monoprix, Monoprix Gourmet, Monoprix Bio, La Beauté Monoprix), fresh products, exclusivities, etc,” a statement detailing the agreement said.

“This commercial partnership, which further enlarges Prime Now service selection, will enable Amazon Prime customers to benefit from ultra-fast deliveries for their Monoprix orders,” said Amazon France country manager, Frédéric Duval.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Casino Group and Monoprix’s own chairman, both stated the importance of the agreement as part of the group’s ‘omnichannel’ expansion to make their products available to an even wider customer base.

Spielberg to produce an Amazon Original series

Well-known director and producer Steven Spielberg will be an executive producer on a new Amazon Original series, the tech giant announced Monday.

‘Cortes’ is a four-hour mini-series based on explorer and conqueror Hernan Cortes’ journey to the Aztecs, that will also star Javier Bardem.

“Cortes’ epic discoveries shaped the world as we know it today, and through the minds of Amblin, Steven Spielberg, Steve Zaillian and Javier Bardem, we will bring Prime Video members on an exhilarating journey,” said Sharon Yguado, Head of Scripted Series at Amazon Studios.

“There is no better challenge than to serve such a unique project that I have been passionate about for years, and I am thrilled to be working with this dream team of Steven Spielberg, Steven Zaillian and Amazon,” Bardem said.