Few companies have managed to weave themselves as deeply into the fabric of everyday life as Walmart.
Need groceries? Walmart has them. A refill on your prescription? Walmart can take care of it. A new outfit for that upcoming event, supplies for that new family pet, or a restock on household supplies? Walmart has that covered, too.
For decades, the retailer has worked to become indispensable to the American consumer. It’s an effort that’s largely paid off, as evidenced by the company’s $177.8 billion in revenue for the first quarter of the 2027 fiscal year.
But the company isn’t done making everyday life easier just yet.
In a recent announcement, Walmart said it will be adding delivery from in-store restaurants to its stable of services.
Walmart introduces restaurant delivery
Beginning in June, Walmart will be offering delivery from its in-store restaurants through the Walmart app or on Walmart.com.
Customers can order just the meals, or can have them delivered alongside groceries and other items as part of a larger Walmart Express Delivery order.
“This marks Walmart’s first restaurant integration within Express Delivery and reflects the company’s broader focus on helping customers simplify everyday life by bringing groceries, household essentials, fashion, prescriptions and restaurant meals together in one convenient experience,” the company said in a statement.
Subway, Walmart’s largest in-store restaurant tenant, will be the first restaurant available as part of the service.
Shoppers in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas can begin adding Subway sandwiches to their orders now, and the retailer says it plans to roll the service out to 1,400 additional locations by the end of the summer.
Getty Images
The food delivery app problem
One of consumers’ primary complaints about competitor delivery apps such as UberEats and DoorDash is the plethora of hidden fees associated with ordering through them.
Just this weekend, I ordered some McDonald’s breakfast after a particularly long night out. My order, which typically runs me about $12 in-store, cost almost $30 after elevated menu prices, taxes, delivery fees, and tip were factored in.
I know I’m not the only one experiencing this delivery-app sticker shock.
A study by Business Insider found that prices on DoorDash and Uber Eats were 20% to 38% higher than in-store prices, as restaurants work to offset the fees the platforms charge them for using the service.
But in line with its commitment to everyday low prices, Walmart says restaurant orders placed through its app won’t be subject to any of these hidden costs.
Related: History of Walmart: Company timeline & facts
Subway orders placed through the app or on the retailer’s website will be consistent with in-restaurant menu prices and delivered with a flat Walmart Express Delivery fee, the company says. There will be no random surcharges for peak hours or algorithmically-induced price swings.
That guarantee alone may be enough for many consumers to choose Walmart over other food delivery apps.
What Walmart’s latest move says about the future of retail
Walmart’s decision to expand into restaurant delivery may tell us something important about the future of retail.
As Americans face increasing financial pressures and demands on their time, convenience has become king.
More retail:
- Lululemon eyes key growth market and it’s not the U.S.
- Amazon finds itself in hot water over Ring camera feature
- Costco just lowered prices on key items
- What is dynamic surge pricing & how does it work?
More than three-quarters (77%) of consumers cited convenience as a key factor when making purchasing decisions, according to recent findings from a Morgan Stanley Research AlphaWise survey.
“Consumers… will in many cases choose one product or service over another if it is more convenient,” Michelle Weaver, Morgan Stanley’s U.S. Thematic Strategist, said in a statement accompanying the survey. “We believe companies selling products or services to simplify consumers’ lives or make the purchasing process itself easier will see the most benefit from the convenience premium.”
That trend helps explain why retailers are increasingly focused on becoming one-stop destinations for consumers. The more errands, purchases, and services a company can consolidate into a single app or shopping trip, the more valuable it becomes to busy customers.
For Walmart, that strategy extends far beyond groceries and household essentials. The retailer already offers services ranging from auto care and pharmacies to financial products and vision centers. Adding restaurant delivery is another way to weave itself more deeply into customers’ daily routines.
“The future of retail is about bringing more of customers’ everyday needs into a single, seamless experience,” Tracy Poulliot, executive vice president of eCommerce and marketing, said in a statement.
“Bringing Subway delivery into the Walmart app is another way we’re using our proximity to customers and scale to make everyday decisions simpler and everyday life a little easier.”
Related: Walmart CEO addresses the concerns of many longtime shoppers
