Walmart has ended its grocery delivery partnerships with Uber and Lyft, according to Reuters. Walmart spokeswoman Molly Blakeman confirmed the end of the program, noting the retailer will use other delivery service providers in the Tampa and Orlando, Fla., Dallas and Phoenix markets.
The partnerships were part of Walmart’s plan to offer grocery delivery to more than 40% of the country. While Uber delivery became active in four markets over two years, the Lyft partnership never expanded beyond its initial test market of Denver.
Uber told Walmart in March that it would cease delivery June 30, according to Uber spokeswoman Ellen Cohn. The transportation company plans to shutter its entire UberRUSH service, which delivers groceries, clothes, flowers and other goods, on that date.
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Walmart still offers grocery delivery through other third-party services such as Postmates and DoorDash. The partnerships launched in April 2018, with Postmates covering the Charlotte, N.C., market and DoorDash providing delivery in Atlanta. The retailer also has grocery delivery in China through a partnership with JD.com, and in Japan through an alliance with Rakuten.
Walmart is still expanding delivery in the U.S., and Postmates is now delivering from the retail giant’s store in Indian Land, S.C., according to The Lancaster News. The program marks Walmart’s first delivery service in South Carolina, and it will expand to a wider area as it gains popularity.
In addition to delivery, Walmart offers grocery pickup at 1,200 stores, up from 100 in 2015. The retailer plans to introduce curbside pickup at another 1,000 stores and expand its delivery service to 100 metro areas in 2018.
