Walmart partners with Google, expands Uber delivery service

Walmart and Google announced last week that a new partnership between the companies will allow shoppers to use Google's apps and devices to shop at Walmart.

According to a story in Supermarket News, Walmart customers will soon be able to link their accounts to Google and receive personalized shopping results based on past purchases using Google Express, Google Assistant or a Google Home device. Walmart will fulfill orders made through Google at no extra charge.

According to the companies, "hundreds of thousands" of items will be available through the service. (Walmart.com has about 67 million SKUs available for sale.)

Walmart ecommerce CEO Marc Lore said the partnership is "just the beginning," adding that voice shopping, which will be possible through Google, will be expanding its capabilities in the near future.

Walmart and Uber team up for home delivery

In a separate announcement, Walmart said last week that it plans to expand its grocery home delivery service through Uber to the Dallas and Orlando markets. Walmart began testing Uber delivery over a year ago in Phoenix.

Customers who choose home delivery through Uber are charged $9.95 per order.

Perhaps the bigger news is that the fleet of Walmart Uber delivery cars have giant models of fruit and vegetables on their roofs.

Walmart revamping Neighborhood Market stores, testing car service delivery

Walmart plans to give its Neighborhood Market concept, a small-format supermarket, an in-store revamp to a new, "fresh and friendly" prototype to better compete with conventional food retailers and price-focused merchants (dollar stores, discount grocers, etc.).

"We've created a more modern look and feel. We've changed the colors... You'll see pick-up, you'll see pharmacy and you'll see fresh food," said Julie Murphy, EVP of Neighborhood Markets.

According to a recent Supermarket News story, Walmart has employed its "fresh angle" layout in the stores, which features a spacious produce section arranged on low tables positioned at an angle to provide greater visibility to perimeter deli and prepared foods.

Earlier this month Walmart also announced that it will test delivery with Uber and Lyft. The tests will take place in Denver (Lyft) and Phoenix (Uber) to execute home delivery of grocery orders. The plan is for customers to order online, then request that the car service pick up the items at Walmart and bring them to their home. The customer would pay a $7 - $10 delivery charge online and make no payment to the driver.

In April Walmart said it was launching a "click-and-collect" grocery shopping option in eight new markets, and expanding its availability in a few markets where it's already available. The free pick-up service launched in Kansas City, Boise, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Austin, Provo, Daphne (AL), and Charleston (SC). Service expanded in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta.

According to Walmart, 90% of online orders include fresh grocery items like dairy, produce or meat.