Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart’s drone delivery program has completed its intended expansion plans for 2022. The company operates 36 drone delivery hubs across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team for creating the largest drone delivery footprint of any U.S. retailer and providing customers with an incredibly fast – and innovative – option for delivery,” said Vik Gopalakrishnan, VP of innovation and automation, Walmart U.S.
“We’re encouraged by the positive response from customers and look forward to making even more progress in 2023.”
Over the past year, Walmart has safely completed more than 6,000 deliveries to customers in as quick as 30 minutes. The top five items delivered via drone from Walmart were in order 16-ounce Great Value cookies and cream ice cream, 2-pound bag of lemons, Freshness Guaranteed hot rotisserie chicken, 8.4-ounce Red Bull and Bounty Select-a-Size paper towels.
Eighty-five percent of items in a Walmart Neighborhood Market meet the 10-pound weight and volume requirements for drone delivery.
Walmart is positioned to offer drone delivery at scale with its 4,700 stores located within 90 percent of the U.S. population. This ability to scale will provide more customers with the opportunity to receive items via drone in the years ahead.
The retailer initially began deliveries in Arizona before expanding to more states. To read the full story from The Shelby Report, click here.
“It may seem like a futuristic option, but it’s giving our customers what they’ve always wanted, and that’s time back to focus on what is most important to them,” Gopalakrishnan said.
For more information, visit droneupdelivery.com.
