Walmart is already known as an almost-unstoppable retail competitor. But the retail giant appears to be pitting itself against restaurants with its latest move.
The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer said last week that its hot rotisserie chicken is now available for same-day delivery. Previously, shoppers could only order cold chicken for delivery.
“We’ve optimized our operations to add more delivery slots and availability, which allows Walmart to deliver our hot rotisserie chicken the same day for its customers,” a Walmart spokesperson told Winsight Grocery Business, a sister publication of Restaurant Business.
Walmart, the country’s largest food retailer, said it sells 103 rotisserie chickens every minute, with shoppers in the Southern U.S. buying the most birds.
A hot rotisserie chicken from a Chicago Walmart was selling for $6.97 last Wednesday. Delivery is free for Walmart+ participants, who pay a membership fee of $98 a year, on orders of at least $35. Non-members pay $7.95 per order.
Walmart on Wednesday also launched a new digital recipe hub where shoppers can select a recipe and add all the ingredients to their online cart. Paprika Chicken & Rice Bake, for example, has 10 ingredients (including salt and pepper) and costs $21.35 to prepare for five servings, according to the recipe site.
The retailer also said it has lowered prices on popular items, through October 15, along with offering meal solutions and curated shopping lists to “feed the whole family for less than $6.”
Recipes include Salsa Poached Eggs and Grilled Avocado Salad, both for under $6, and dishes such as Gardein Chick’n Wraps (less than $12) or Pork & Mango Salad (less than $16).
Walmart’s e-commerce sales jumped 24% during Q2, driven by growth in pickup and delivery.
Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, with more than 10,500 stores and 2.1 million employees in 19 countries.
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