Walmart’s answer to Amazon Prime on the grocery side, Delivery Unlimited, is expanding nationwide, the company said, reaching 1,400 U.S. stores now and 1,600 by the end of the year. The program costs $98 per year, about the same as Prime’s old price, or $12.95 per month.
Walmart had been piloting Delivery Unlimited this year in Houston, Miami, Salt Lake City and Tampa, and decided to expand to all 200 markets where grocery delivery is available, based on the positive response. Outside of a Delivery Unlimited subscription, a Walmart grocery delivery costs either $7.95 or $9.95.
Expect a response offering from Amazon or Target within the next week or two.
Among the 100,000 items available under Delivery Unlimited are produce, meat, seafood and bakery products, along with pantry items and some general merchandise, the company said. The minimum order threshold is $30, and customers have to wait at least four hours between order and delivery.
“We’ve been investing in our online grocery business by quickly expanding our Grocery Pickup and Delivery services. Delivery Unlimited is the next step in that journey,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president of digital operations for Walmart U.S. in the release. “By pairing our size and scale and these services we’re making Walmart the easiest place for to shop.”
Walmart has over 45,000 personal shoppers to pick grocery orders in store, each of whom has to go through a three-week training program. The company also offers curbside pickup of grocery orders at about 3,000 stores, with plans to add 100 more by the end of the year.