Continuing its partnership with last-mile delivery provider Deliv, a Menlo Park-based startup, Walmart is expanding its same-day grocery delivery services in the San Jose, California area, according to a news report from TechCrunch.
Customers will be able to shop online and schedule deliveries between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any day of the week, the companies announced on Friday (Nov. 17). A signature will be required upon receipt.
Walmart has been saying for a while that its focus is on pickup rather than delivery, since its customer base is more concerned with cost than convenience. However, the big-box retailer has several delivery irons in the fire as it fights for a place at the forefront of the grocery delivery space alongside Instacart, Shipt, AmazonFresh and multiple supermarket chains.
Deliv is involved in a number of Walmart’s initiatives. Most recently, it partnered with Walmart and smart door lock maker August to test in-home delivery of packages – and direct-to-fridge grocery delivery, a concept that many found convenient if not a little creepy.
The service was being tested in Silicon Valley in September, where consumers who owned August doorbells, security cameras and other smart home devices could opt in to try it. The smart locks enable customers to watch the entire delivery in real time from their smartphone, intended to alleviate any apprehension about the idea of having a stranger in their homes.
Deliv was also one of the partners for last year’s last-mile grocery delivery tests by Walmart, along with Uber and Lyft. Meanwhile, in New York, the big-box retailer is teaming up with delivery service Parcel, a partnership it forged in October, to power same-day delivery in the Big Apple.
Walmart projects that as much as 20 percent of grocery sales will take place online by 2025, which is why the company isn’t going to ignore delivery, even if it feels that pickup is a better cultural fit.
“Customers are busier than ever – they’re looking for ways they can free up time on their calendars, and with Deliv, we’re here to help,” said Sylvester John, senior director of eCommerce operations at Walmart U.S., in a statement.