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Key Takeaways
- Grocery delivery has evolved from a pandemic-era necessity into a must-have service, with retailers racing to offer faster and more efficient options.
- Walmart has been exploring innovative delivery methods to streamline how customers receive everyday essentials.
- Now, Walmart is bringing its delivery partnership with Zipline to Mesquite, Texas, with plans to expand across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and beyond.
There’s never been a better time for food delivery. What began as a necessity during the pandemic has turned into an everyday convenience that many shoppers now can’t imagine life without. Retailers and restaurants have continued to expand their options to meet growing demand, allowing customers to get what they need in record time.
Last year, Walmart announced plans to make delivery more efficient through InHome Delivery, a service that brings groceries straight to your kitchen. In the same news release, the retailer also mentioned plans for drone delivery, which was still in development at the time.
After years of trial flights, Walmart has officially launched aerial delivery service in Texas—and the retail giant doesn’t plan to stop there.
Walmart Partners With Zipline for Drone Grocery Delivery
Walmart has partnered with Zipline, a San Francisco-based company specializing in drone deliveries for health care supplies, restaurants, and groceries. Walmart is joining Zipline’s other food-focused partners, which already include Jet’s Pizza, Panera, and Sweetgreen. The company uses unmanned aerial vehicles called Platform 2 Zips, or P2 Zips, to bring groceries to eligible homes within a fixed zone. P2 Zips have a 10-mile service radius and can cruise up to 70 miles per hour, meaning your goods can likely arrive faster by drone than they would by traditional methods.
Zipline first launched Walmart service in 2021 in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, a community about ten miles north of Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. With sights set on growth, Zipline has started service in Mesquite, Texas, and soon plans to expand its reach across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, bringing service to millions of Walmart customers. According to its website, Zipline also plans to open up shop in the Seattle-Tacoma area in the future, but no official dates have been announced regarding this expansion.
How Does Walmart’s Drone Delivery Work?
Getting your groceries delivered by drone is as easy as ordering regular delivery. Those within the service area can schedule and receive their order in as little as 30 minutes. But before you try to get your entire weekly grocery list delivered, it’s important to note that the drones can only carry about eight pounds, meaning many items may not be eligible due to size or weight. These speedy deliveries are ideal for last-minute items. (Think: You ran out of milk and planned to make chocolate chip muffins for breakfast, you forgot an essential dinner ingredient, or need over-the-counter cold medicines and chicken noodle soup.)
So, how does it work? All you have to do is add eligible items to your virtual Walmart shopping cart, confirm the drop-off area, and place the order. It’s important to note that the drone may not be able to deliver directly to your doorstep. While P2 Zips have the accuracy to land on a space as small as a patio table, with consideration to safety and potential obstacles, you may be asked to select an open space such as your front or back yard, or driveway. When your goods arrive, the drone itself will not land. Instead, it will hover in the air, around 300 feet, and extend a tethered carrier portal to carefully place your items in the drop-off location.
According to the Zipline Fact Sheet, Zips are operated by trained personnel who are qualified to fly in a range of weather, such as “rain, wind, thunderstorms, cold, and other conditions that would normally slow down automotive transport.” So even if the weather outside is frightful, you will still be able to get your movie snacks.
And, some good news for Walmart+ members: For a limited time, you can enjoy free drone delivery. Non-members, on the other hand, will have to pay a fee of $19.99 per order.
Be sure to keep an eye on the sky, as you never know when delivery drones might land in your neighborhood.
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