Key facts
- Walmart is expanding into the restaurant delivery business through a partnership with Dunkin'.
- The company aims to leverage its scale to compete in markets dominated by DoorDash and Uber Eats.
- Walmart's strategy involves testing new concepts and learning from them, a practice dating back to its founder, Sam Walton.
- The retailer has previously experimented with other business ventures, including home improvement and pharmacy services.
- Walmart's auto care centers, established in 1979, are now present at nearly 2,600 locations.
Walmart is venturing into the restaurant delivery sector through a strategic partnership with Dunkin', aiming to leverage its considerable scale to challenge established players like DoorDash and Uber Eats. This move is part of a long-standing company ethos, established by founder Sam Walton, of constantly experimenting with new retail concepts and learning from each endeavor.
Walmart's history includes various diversification attempts. In 1975, it launched Sav-Co Home Improvement Centers, an early foray into a new market that was ultimately short-lived. A more successful expansion began in 1978 with the introduction of in-store pharmacies, which have since grown into a substantial business line, dispensing billions of dollars in prescriptions annually. Additionally, Walmart established its first auto care center in 1979, a service now available at nearly 2,600 of its locations.
The partnership with Dunkin' signifies Walmart's intent to become a significant player in the food delivery space, a market currently dominated by specialized third-party services. The company views this as a continuation of its DNA, as described by CEO John Furner, who highlighted the importance of adapting to evolving consumer behaviors and market trends.