Walmart has just announced plans to compete with Target’s Shipt and Amazon Now grocery delivery services in Charlotte and 5 other select markets around the country. They plan on expanding the service to over 100 metro areas by the end of this year.
“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,” commented 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.”
Charlotte customers place their orders online at Walmart.com/grocery or on the existing Walmart Grocery App, and unlike other services, the same prices online will be the same prices they offer in the store.
The service currently ‘personal shoppers’ to fulfill orders in stores and Uber drivers to deliver the groceries. They currently employ over 18,000 personal shoppers and plans to add thousands more over the course of 2018 as they expand their grocery delivery service.
These employees have to first complete a three-week training program to learn how to prepare online orders, which involves learning how to pick the best produce or the best cuts of meat.
There are currently over 1,200 stores offering grocery pickup, up from over 900 in 2017, 600 in 2016, and just 100 in 2015. Walmart says it will expand curbside pickup another 1,000 stores in 2018.
“Our commitment goes further than saving customers money,” commented Tom Ward, vice president, 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.”
Walmart’s Online Grocery Delivery carries a $9.95 fee with a $30 minimum order. Customers can get their first order delivered for free using promo code FRESHCAR.