Delivery services show few signs of losing interest among Americans. While they often include significant surcharges over in-person shopping, it also means not having to press a button to get a case unlocked for deodorant or detergent. And Wing and Walmart have been able to capitalize on a drone delivery service in two regions so far, and the companies are looking to cover a wider part of the U.S.
Wing, an Alphabet-owned company, said on Sunday that it will boost its drone delivery service to Houston starting on Thursday, with planned expansions in Orlando, Tampa, and Charlotte in the coming weeks, making the option available to customers at 150 Walmart locations. By 2027, the company said it would add locations in cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, bringing the total store count to 270.
Six Walmart Supercenters in the Atlanta area added drone delivery last month in the holiday shopping season, Wing said. Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was the first region to engage in the Wing-Walmart partnership in August 2023.
“We’ve spent years building our technology to ensure that when you realize you’re out of eggs or need over-the-counter medicine, the solution is just a few taps away, seamlessly integrated into existing store operations,” Wing CEO Adam Woodworth said in Sunday’s news release. “We believe even the smallest package deserves the speed and reliability of a great delivery service. Working with Walmart has allowed us to prove that delivering these critical, everyday items in minutes makes a significant difference for families.”
Wing claimed on Sunday that the top 25% of customers ordered three times a week through the Walmart app. In the Atlanta locations, for example, it offers delivery within 5 minutes of order fulfillment on items such as produce, dairy, non-perishable groceries, household products, over-the-counter medicine, and children’s toys.
Last year, Wendy’s partnered with Wing for a drone delivery program in Virginia. Wing has also previously partnered with PepsiCo during last year’s Super Bowl.
