Amazon has announced its fastest-ever delivery speeds globally in 2024, with more than nine billion items delivered same or next day worldwide, including over one billion items in the UK alone.

The e-commerce giant has expanded its same-day delivery service to cover more than 80 towns and cities across the UK, with popular items including pharmacy essentials like magnesium and baby wipes, as well as beauty products such as mascara and skincare items.

The company set a new speed record in Manchester, where a children's book was delivered in just 86 minutes. The order, placed at noon for 'The Story Orchestra: Carnival of the Animals', arrived at 1:26pm.

UK Prime members saved an average of nearly £200 on delivery costs in 2024, representing more than double the annual membership fee. The service has seen particularly strong uptake in major cities, with London customers frequently ordering items such as WaterWipes and INSTAX mini instant film.

John Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, said: "Our customers always tell us that they value the low prices, wide selection, and fast deliveries that we provide. We work hard to innovate and provide faster, more sustainable deliveries, and are proud to announce another record-breaking year for fast delivery, with some big savings for Prime members along the way."

Regional trends showed varying preferences across the UK, with Glasgow customers favouring hair care products like COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, while Birmingham residents placed numerous orders for skincare essentials. In Swansea, Pepsi Max cans emerged as one of the most popular same-day delivery items.

To commemorate the milestone, former Mis-Teeq MC Alesha Dixon created a 30-second freestyle performance highlighting the company's delivery achievements and revealing the most popular same-day delivery cities across the country.

Amazon continues to expand its delivery network, offering more than 25,000 pick-up locations throughout the UK, providing customers with additional flexible collection options at no extra cost.

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