Walmart announced today that it will partner with both Uber and Lyft for “last mile” grocery delivery testing in Denver and Phoenix, during which Walmart employees will pack orders which will then be delivered by the ride-hailing services for a fee of between $7-$10, all through the Walmart website. Lyft’s participation in the pilot scheme is being reported as surprising as while Uber has a delivery division (UberRush) to handle deliveries from its own fleet of cars Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Doug McMillon is expected to discuss the pilot project with the rival ride-hailing companies at the retailer’s annual shareholder meeting on Friday. , Walmart’s plan seems more like an attempt at getting into the business itself. Meanwhile, established home delivery firms Instacart and Postmates, whose partners include Starbucks, Apple, and Walgreens, appear to have been completely overlooked for participation in the programme. The move is being seen as another sign that Walmart plans to compete head-on with Amazon to offer fast delivery of its products directly into consumers’ homes.
Walmart announced today that it will partner with both Uber and Lyft for “last mile” grocery delivery testing in Denver and Phoenix, during which Walmart employees will pack orders which will then be delivered by the ride-hailing services for a fee of between $7-$10, all through the Walmart website. Lyft’s participation in the pilot scheme is being reported as surprising as while Uber has a delivery division (UberRush) to handle deliveries from its own fleet of cars, Walmart’s plan seems more like an attempt at getting into the business itself. Meanwhile, established home delivery firms Instacart and Postmates, whose partners include Starbucks, Apple, and Walgreens, appear to have been completely overlooked for participation in the programme. The move is being seen as another sign that Walmart plans to compete head-on with Amazon to offer fast delivery of its products directly into consumers’ homes.