Walmart has expanded its delivery service to include restaurant food, allowing customers to receive meals from in-store eateries alongside their grocery and merchandise orders. According to reports, the retail giant is instructing some Spark delivery drivers to also handle restaurant orders from chains located within Walmart stores, such as Dunkin' or McDonald's.
New Delivery Option Begins May 11
Restaurant deliveries through Walmart Spark started on May 11, as per internal messages seen by Business Insider. An email sent to a Spark worker indicated that restaurant orders would be combined with standard Walmart product purchases. The message stated: "You may start seeing restaurant delivery offers from participating restaurants located inside Walmart stores in your area, offering more ways to earn." These orders could include items like meals, sides, or drinks.
Walmart's Response and Expansion
Walmart declined to comment on the new service due to a quiet period before its upcoming earnings report. The Independent reached out for further details. While many Walmart locations host national chains, some feature regional restaurants; for instance, Wienerschnitzel announced plans last year to open outlets in select Walmart stores.
Introduced in 2018, Walmart's Spark delivery service focuses on same-day deliveries from its 4,600 stores, covering groceries, electronics, and more. This move aims to enhance convenience for customers and increase earning opportunities for drivers.
Separately, Walmart recently laid off or relocated around 1,000 corporate employees from its global technology and product teams to streamline operations, unrelated to AI automation. This follows a similar reduction of 1,500 employees about a year ago.
