Walmart Completes 6,000 Drone Deliveries
January 9, 2023
Walmart’s
drone delivery program is soaring into the new year, having successfully
completed its intended expansion plans for 2022. The company now operates,
with its vendors, 36 drone delivery hubs across seven states, including
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, vice
president, innovation & 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 little as 30 minutes. The top five items delivered via drone
from Walmart were, in order, Great Value Cookies and Cream Ice Cream 16 oz,
2lb Bag of Lemons, Freshness Guaranteed Hot Rotisserie Chicken, Red Bull 8.4
fl. oz, and Bounty Select-a-Size Paper Towels. Currently 85% of items in a
Walmart Neighborhood Market meet the 10 lb. weight and volume requirements
for drone delivery.
Walmart is uniquely positioned to offer drone delivery at scale with its
4,700 stores located within 90% of the U.S. population, and this ability to
scale will provide even more customers with the convenient opportunity to
receive items via drone in the years ahead.
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