Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market for $14 billion, a move that could significantly alter the US grocery industry. The acquisition is valuable because it grants Amazon access to Whole Foods' sophisticated location planning process, which has identified affluent customer demographics and locations with high demand for natural and organic products. By inheriting this data, Amazon will be able to analyze consumption patterns and optimize supply and demand on a hyper-local level, reducing waste and improving logistics. The acquisition also provides Amazon with 431 prime-location distribution nodes, which can be used to enhance its delivery capabilities, including aerial warehouses and drone-based services. Overall, the deal is about leveraging location data to drive sales and growth, both online and offline.