SEATTLE AND AUSTIN, TEXAS — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has officially closed its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market. The first order of business for the e-commerce giant is making the Austin-based grocer’s high-quality and organic food more affordable for its shoppers. Beginning yesterday, Whole Foods Market now offers lower prices on selected grocery staples across its stores, with more to come. These include fair-trade bananas, organic avocados, organic large brown eggs, organic salmon and tilapia, organic baby kale and baby lettuce, animal-welfare-rated 85 percent lean ground beef, creamy and crunchy almond butter, organic Gala and Fuji apples, organic rotisserie chicken and organic butter. “We’re determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO of AmazonWorldwide Consumer, in a statement. “We will lower prices without compromising Whole Foods Market’s long-held commitment to the highest standards.” Due to Amazon’s reputation and ability to deliver on its promises, other grocers are watching closely as Whole Foods transitions to the new model, according to Rick Scardino, principal of Lee & Associates’ Chicago office. “Most grocers will be concerned for obvious reasons as to Amazon’s plan to lower pricing because that will shrink already tight margins in the grocery …
