Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 Billion, which is considered one of Amazon’s most significant acquisitions.
Whole Foods is a chain of organic food markets with over 500 US, UK, and Canadian stores. It was one of the first companies bought by Amazon to enter into the physical retail business.
Amazon now sells affordable food products through this subsidiary, allowing it to deal with and compete in the fresh food market. Additionally, the grocery delivery services through Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh enable customers to place their grocery orders conveniently.
Despite Amazon venturing into other brick-and-mortar stores, Whole Foods remains its most successful physical business.
2. Zappos
Zappos was an online shoe and clothing retailer. It became very popular for its exceptional customer service and company culture.
In 2009, Amazon acquired Zappos for $1.2 billion. Since the acquisition, Amazon has incorporated many of Zappos’s customer-focused practices, such as offering free shipping and returns, into its own operations. However, Amazon has also changed how Zappos operates, including implementing new technology systems and streamlining the company's operations.
Despite the changes made by Amazon, Zappos has maintained its unique company culture and commitment to customer service, which has helped it remain a popular online retailer.
3. Kiva Systems (Amazon Robotics)
Kiva Systems is a Robotics Company, and after Amazon’s acquisition in 2012 for $775 Million, it Amazon renamed it Amazon Robotics.
Kiva Systems developed autonomous mobile robots to perform material handling and warehouse automation.
After the acquisition, Amazon used Kiva Systems’ technological expertise and infrastructure to automate its fulfillment centers and improve its supply chain operations.
Since then, by the name of Amazon Robotics, Kiva Systems has continued to develop new technologies to enhance the speed of Amazon's logistics and delivery processes.
The company's robots are now used in hundreds of fulfillment centers worldwide, helping Amazon maintain its reputation for fast and reliable delivery.
4. Pillpack, Inc
PillPack was originally just an online pharmacy that offered pre-sorted medication packets for chronic-condition customers. In 2018, by acquiring PillPack, Amazon finally entered into the pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry. The acquisition allowed Amazon to utilize PillPack's prescription management and delivery expertise and expand its reach into the healthcare sector. PillPack became popular among patients for its packaging and personalized customer service, and the acquisition helped Amazon to streamline its delivery processes further and improve its customer experience.
5. Twitch Interactive
Twitch Interactive was a popular name as a live streaming platform for video games, esports, and other forms of digital entertainment. In 2014, when Amazon acquired Twitch, the company finally recognized video games and live-streaming as forms of entertainment and sources of revenue. By acquiring Twitch, Amazon expanded to the gaming and esports industries and offered its customers a new way to connect with their favorite games and players. Twitch has since grown into one of the largest live-streaming platforms in the world, attracting millions of viewers and content creators every day. Today, Twitch operates as a subsidiary of Amazon, helping the company to maintain its position as a leader in digital entertainment.
6. MGM Holdings Inc.
MGM Holdings Inc, formerly known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc, was one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. It is famous for iconic franchises like James Bond, Rocky, and The Handmaid's Tale. In 2021, when Amazon acquired MGM Holdings Inc, it aimed to strengthen and expand its entertainment industry content. The acquisition gave Amazon access to MGM's vast library of film and TV content, which enhanced its streaming services and offered its customers a more diverse selection of digital entertainment content. MGM’s content continues to be a valuable addition to Amazon’s presence in the rapidly evolving streaming market.
7. One Medical
One Medical started as an online primary care practice that aimed to make health care more accessible and convenient for patients. When Amazon acquired One Medical in 2021, it strengthened its presence in the healthcare sector. Through the acquisition, Amazon leveraged One Medical's expertise in delivering technology-enabled health services and utilized it to expand its reach into the growing market for virtual and telehealth services. One Medical's commitment to providing high-quality, accessible health care made it a popular choice among patients. The acquisition helped Amazon further diversify its offerings and improve its customer experience.
Other Big Companies Owned by Amazon
1. Audible
Audible is an online audiobook and podcast company that started in 1995. In 2008, Audible became a subsidiary of Amazon, and since then, it has been fully integrated into Amazon's suite of services. Audible offers a massive library of audiobooks, original content, and other audio products on its website, mobile app, and other platforms. After the acquisition, Amazon utilized Audible’s expertise in digital audio content and expanded its reach into the growing market for audio entertainment. Audible has become one of the world's largest and most popular audiobook services. It continues to play a vital role in Amazon's efforts to diversify its offerings and improve its customer experience.
2. Goodreads
Goodreads started as a social network for book lovers, offering users a platform to discover, share, and discuss books. In 2013 when Amazon acquired Goodreads, it helped the company to expand to the publishing and e-book markets. Amazon integrated Goodreads into its suite of services and used the platform's extensive book database and community to enhance its customer experience. Goodreads now has millions of users who continue to use the platform to find their next great read and connect with other book lovers.
3. IMDb
IMDb, short for the Internet Movie Database, is a website and app that provides comprehensive information about movies, TV shows, and celebrities. Founded in 1990, IMDb has become one of the world's largest and most popular entertainment databases, attracting millions of visitors every month. In 1998, when Amazon acquired IMDb, the move was to expand into the entertainment industry. IMDb continues to be a valuable resource for movie and TV enthusiasts and is integrated with other Amazon entertainment offerings, including Amazon Prime Video.
4. Zoox
Founded in 2014, Zoox started as an independent vehicle company to revolutionize the transportation industry. It was focused on developing a fully independent ride-hail service and became a popular name in the industry when Amazon in June 2020. The acquisition of Zoox marked Amazon's entry into the autonomous vehicle space, and the company has since been working to integrate Zoox's technology into its operations. With its expertise in robotics and autonomous systems, Zoox has the potential to play a significant role in automating transportation and logistics for Amazon.
5. Ring
Ring started in 2012 as a home security company that aimed at reducing crime in neighborhoods. The company specializes in manufacturing intelligent doorbells and security cameras that allow homeowners to monitor their homes from anywhere using a smartphone app. The ring became extremely popular among consumers, and in 2018, Amazon acquired it. The acquisition of Ring was part of Amazon's broader strategy to expand its presence in the smart home market and offer customers an integrated suite of connected devices. With Amazon as its parent company, Ring has continued to innovate and expand its product line. It has become one of the most recognizable brands in the home security market.
6. Souq
Souq.com is one of the most popular online retailers in the Middle East that offers a wide range of products, including consumer electronics, fashion, home goods, and more. Souq started in 2005 and quickly became one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the region, serving customers in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt. In 2017, Amazon acquired Souq, which allowed the world's largest online retailer to expand its presence in the Middle East and tap into the fast-growing e-commerce market in the region. Amazon has integrated Souq into its operations, and it continues to be a popular shopping destination for millions of customers in the Middle East.
7. Junglee
Junglee started in 1996 as an online comparison shopping website in India. It allowed consumers to compare prices and features of products from different online and offline sellers.Junglee became one of the first e-commerce platforms in India and catalyzed the online shopping industry in India. Amazon acquired Junglee in 1998. This acquisition became Amazon’s foundation in the fast-growing market of India. Now, Amazon India is one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the country, serving millions of customers and offering a wide range of products and services. The acquisition of Junglee was an essential step in Amazon's global expansion, and it continues to play a significant role in the company's success in India.
8. iRobot
Founded in 1990, iRobot became a leading consumer robot company. It aimed to create the usage of robotics more practical. The company is best known for its Roomba vacuum cleaner, which has become one of the most popular home robots in the world. It continued to innovate its product line and expanded to create a range of robots for the home, including floor cleaners, gutter cleaners, and more. After the acquisition, Amazon utilized iRobotics’ technological expertise to automatize operations in Amazon. The acquisition of iRobot is also part of Amazon's effort to expand its reach in the smart home market.
9. Shopbop
Shopbop is a luxury fashion retailer that started in 2000. It offers a wide selection of designer clothing, shoes, accessories, and beauty products for women. After Amazon acquired it in 2006, Shopbop was able to expand its reach and provide customers with access to a broader range of products and services, including Amazon's fast and reliable shipping options. Despite its acquisition, Shopbop has maintained its distinct brand identity and continues offering its customers a curated selection of luxury fashion items.
FAQs On Amazon Subsidiaries
What is the Parent Company of Amazon?
Amazon.com, Inc is the parent company of Amazon and all its subsidiaries. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 as an online marketplace for books and other products.
Now, Amazon has expanded to become one of the largest online retailers in the world, with over 9.5 Million sellers across the globe, and has made a significant presence in E-commerce, cloud computing, Artificial services, robotics, etc.
Through its subsidiary Lab126, Amazon has also begun developing and manufacturing its own electronic devices, including Kindle, Echo, Fire TV, Fire Tablet, etc.
Amazon has always kept its business strategy to be customer-centric. It has expanded and innovated its platform to make customer services more efficient. This customer-driven strategy has made Amazon a well-trusted and popular name among consumers.
How many Amazon Subsidiaries are there?
As of Feb 2023, Amazon has over 40 subsidiaries and has acquired or invested in more than 128 companies worldwide.
These acquisitions and investments have allowed Amazon to expand its reach to different markets and industries. Amazon does not want to remain just an online retail market giant but wishes to expand its operations to tap today’s fast-growing sectors.
In the end
You might be wrong if you think that these are all the subsidiaries that Amazon owns. Amazon has a lot of subsidiaries and, over the years, has bought up a lot of different companies. Amazon has covered a wide range of global industries and markets, and it continues to do so.
This article helped you understand Amazon and its operation across different sectors. Amazon continues to create more opportunities to earn money through its platforms as it expands its business. Stay tuned to learn more about Amazon.
Samrudha Salvi ‧ Author
With more than 5 years on selling on amazon, and helping 100s to get started on Amazon.
