Report: Walmart pilots Instacart delivery

Walmart is reportedly testing out same-day delivery with Instacart at select stores in California and Oklahoma.

According to CNBC, the discount giant is currently offering delivery of online orders via Instacart in the California markets of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, as well as in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“Today, we welcomed Walmart to the Instacart marketplace for the first time in the U.S.,” an Instacart spokesperson told CNBC in a statement. “The new partnership brings thousands of items — from groceries, alcohol and pantry staples to home decor and improvement, personal care, electronics and more — at everyday low prices from Walmart stores to customers’ doors in as fast as an hour.”

Instacart already partners with Walmart rivals including Target and Costco, as well as major grocers including Kroger and Albertsons, and even Walmart’s Sam’s Club warehouse club subsidiary. However, the pilot is likely geared to give Walmart more competitive edge against Amazon, which offers deliveries of select products in as little as one hour to members of its Prime paid membership service in some cities. Walmart is reportedly delaying the launch of a Prime-like membership
service called “Walmart+” to an unspecified future date.