Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart has completed more than one million drone deliveries to hundreds of thousands of customers, a milestone the retailer announced May 29.
What started as a pilot a few years ago has expanded to 66 stores in four states serving five metro markets. The service is designed for everyday “uh‑oh” moments: forgotten pizza toppings, printer ink for a school project, or cold medicine needed fast.
Since launch, Walmart said customers have evolved from trying the service for novelty items like bananas or snack food to relying on it frequently for deliveries when they need items fast.
Key metrics from the announcement include:
- More than 200,000 drone deliveries in Texas;
- 40 percent of the 1 million deliveries were made in fiscal year 2027 first quarter alone;
- Average drone delivery time: 23 minutes; and
- Fastest delivery time: 4 minutes and 44 seconds.
Walmart operates drone delivery through partners including Wing and Zipline. With thousands of stores located close to the communities it serves, Walmart said it is uniquely positioned to explore new ways to connect customers with products they want, when they want them.
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