Walmart launches restaurant meal delivery with grocery orders
Walmart is entering the restaurant delivery market by having some Spark delivery drivers deliver meals from in-store eateries like McDonald's
Your next food delivery might arrive at your doorstep courtesy of Walmart.
The retail giant has started requesting its Spark delivery drivers from particular outlets to manage restaurant orders, as per messages sent to the drivers.
These orders involve picking up meals at restaurants situated inside Walmart branches, such as some McDonald's and Dunkin' locations.
Delivering meals marks a new domain for Walmart's online business, which reached a milestone of over $150 billion in worldwide sales last fiscal year for the first time.
According to a notification viewed by Business Insider, the deliveries from restaurants commenced last Monday. Another email sent to a Spark worker explained that some restaurant orders would be combined with that of Walmart goods for delivery.
A representative for Walmart chose not to provide any comments due to the quiet period preceding the company’s forthcoming earnings announcement on Thursday.
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"You might begin to notice opportunities for restaurant deliveries from eateries located within Walmart outlets in your vicinity, providing additional earning possibilities," the email states.
The offers "could involve items such as entrees, snacks, or beverages," the notification mentions.
Alongside famous franchises like McDonald's and Dunkin', select Walmart locations also house local food establishments. For instance, last year, California-based hot dog franchise Wienerschnitzel announced plans to set up outlets in multiple Walmart locations across the Western United States.
Over the past few years, Walmart has expanded its Spark delivery system. The service was first launched by the company in 2018. Through Spark, Walmart leverages its 4,600 stores across the US to fulfil the orders.
The focus of the service is on delivering fresh produce, technology products, and other Walmart merchandise on the same day. The retailer is striving to speed up this delivery process — an objective increasing the demand on store employees handling the picking and packing.
Spark drivers also deliver for other retailers, including Home Depot and Sur La Table.
