Walmart is expanding its drone-delivery operations to five new states.
Walmart is expanding its drone delivery service. Now, millions of customers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa will be able to receive their orders in just minutes.
Walmart said it is the first retailer to scale drone delivery across five states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.
This rapid expansion reinforces Walmart’s leadership in tech-enabled retail, bringing the future of shopping to even more customers, the company said in a press release.
Drone Delivery at Scale
“As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key part of our commitment to redefining retail. We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever before,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president of Walmart U.S. Transformation and Innovation. “This expansion of our drone delivery service marks a significant milestone in that journey. As the first retailer to scale drone delivery, Walmart is once again demonstrating its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance our delivery offerings with a focus on speed.”
Since launching drone delivery in 2021, Walmart has completed more than 150,000 deliveries within minutes.
The new drone service will launch at 100 stores. The new additions will build on existing operations in Northwest Arkansas and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Through an agreement with established drone provider Wing, Walmart said it can deliver a faster, more efficient service to even more customers in a way that’s both safe and sustainable.
Wing operates within FAA guidelines, flying their drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) up to a 6-mile aircraft range from the store.
On June 6, President Trump ordered restrictions cut on current drone regulations in the U.S. The President also ordered Federal Aviation Administration to speed the development of a new rule to allow operators to fly drones even if they are out of sight.
Observers said the new directives are aimed at bolstering the U.S. drone industry, which is lagging behind Chinese developers. The U.S. has so far failed to develop domestic drones that can compete with Chinese-made units in terms of price and capability.
More When 150,000 Drone Deliveries to Date
“This is real drone delivery at scale,” said Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing, of the Walmart expansion. “People all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have made drone delivery part of their normal shopping habits over the past year. Now we’re excited to share this ultra-fast delivery experience with millions more people across many more U.S. cities.”
Since launching drone delivery in 2021, Walmart has completed more than 150,000 deliveries within minutes.
With the expansion, the company is set to offer thousands of products delivered directly to their door, faster than ever — in 30 minutes or less.
Walmart customers can utilize drone delivery for everything from groceries to health and wellness products to household essentials.
In addition to new cities being added, Walmart continues to expand its current drone operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Customers are using drone delivery for key ingredients they may have forgotten during their weekly grocery trip or for urgent care items, such as OTC cold/flu medicine, baby formula and COVID tests.
Among the most frequently delivered Walmart products are:
- Fresh fruit, including bananas, lemons and limes
- Eggs
- Ice cream
- Pet food
Walmart continues to expand its drone delivery operations in Dallas-Fort Worth, as well.
Earlier this year, Zipline launched its first-ever P2 drone site at Walmart stores in Mesquite and Waxahachie, Texas, offering a delivery experience that’s quieter than the average delivery truck, the company said.
Drone delivery is just one of the many ways Walmart said it is offering faster, more efficient delivery options.
With choices like Express Delivery (as soon as 30 minutes), Late-Night Delivery, and InHome Delivery (right to the refrigerator), Walmart said it is setting a new standard for speed and flexibility in retail.
