Walmart plans to expand its grocery delivery service to more than 40 percent of U.S. households by the end of the year. Walmart Grocery Delivery, available today in six markets, will grow to serve more than 100 metro areas across the country.
“We’re saving customers time by leveraging new technology, and connecting all the parts of our business into a single seamless shopping experience: great stores, easy pickup, fast delivery, and apps and websites that are simple to use,” said Greg Foran, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “We’re serving our customers in ways that no one else can. Using our size and scale, we’re bringing the best of Walmart to customers across the country.”
To use the service, customers place their orders online at Walmart.com/grocery or on the existing Walmart Grocery App. Products available range from fresh produce, meat, seafood and bakery items, to pantry staples, consumables and seasonal general merchandise. And Walmart’s online prices are the same as those found in the store, the retailer says. Groceries can be delivered to customers as soon as the same day for a flat $9.95 fee and a $30 minimum order.
With the help of Walmart’s personal shoppers and crowd-sourced delivery services, the retailer will be able to shop for and deliver fresh groceries to the doorsteps of millions of Americans. Walmart employs more than 18,000 personal shoppers to power this program, with thousands more being added this year.
“These associates must complete a three-week training program to learn how to select the freshest produce and the best cuts of meat for online grocery customers,” Walmart says.
The retailer also offers a pickup service that allows customers to order their groceries online and pick them up at the store without getting out of their cars. The service is now available in 1,200 stores, with 1,000 more to be added this year.
“Our commitment goes further than saving customers money,” said Tom Ward, VP, digital operations, Walmart U.S. “Ninety percent of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store, and we serve more than 150 million customers a week, which gives us a unique opportunity to make every day a little easier for busy families. Today, we’re expanding this promise by helping even more customers save time and money without leaving their homes.”
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