Walmart to expand grocery delivery with smart cooler pilot

NEW YORK: Walmart said on Tuesday (Jan 12)it would test doorstep delivery of grocery items in temperature-controlled containers made by HomeValet, as the world's biggest retailer looks to meet a pandemic-fuelled surge in online shopping.

The US retail chain and several of its peers have been doubling down on their online business as curbside pickup and contactless delivery gained favour while people were stuck at home during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Walmart also said participating customers in Bentonville, Arkansas, its headquarters, would be able to receive deliveries from their local Walmart stores directly into a smart cooler placed outside their home.

The box, Walmart said, has three temperature-controlled zones to store frozen, refrigerated and pantry items.

Walmart, which has previously tested delivery of items through drones and autonomous vehicles, said the partnership with HomeValet could allow it to deliver groceries round the clock in the future.