Walmart on May 28 said it was expanding its 30-minute-or-less delivery service.

The race for 30-minute delivery to your home is heating up. Walmart on May 28 said it was expanding its 30-minute-or-less delivery service, and it is now available in 33 cities across the United States. The news comes two weeks after competitor Amazon said it was expanding its 30-minute delivery services to dozens more cities with plans to expand to others by the end of the year. “Customers are looking for faster, easier ways to get what they need in the moments that matter," Tracy Poulliot, chief eCommerce officer for Walmart U.S. said in a press release. "We’ve been delivering orders in 30 minutes or less for more than a year, and today 26% of our Express Deliveries are already arriving in that timeframe." 'Need it now' demand is growing Walmart said the availability of 30-minute-or-less delivery "builds on Walmart's long-term convenience strategy and broader Express Delivery offering as customer demand continues to grow for more immediate and frictionless shopping experiences." Walmart said customers can shop from more than 100,000 eligible items including groceries, pantry staples, baby essentials, cold and flu medicine, household supplies, pet food, electronics and prescription delivery. The retailer said it had completed "millions of deliveries" in 30 minutes or less to more than 19,000 zip codes across the country during the first quarter of the year. "We've seen a trend in 'need it now' items across categories, reflecting the many ways customers are using faster delivery for immediate needs and last-minute occasions," Walmart said. That includes items like batteries and party supplies, dog food and last-minute meal solutions, the retailer said. Fast delivery is the new battleground, said Neil Saunders, a retail analyst at the research and analytics firm GlobalData. "While such speed it not needed all the time, consumers like the option in case they need a product urgently," Saunders told USA TODAY. "So, retailers not offering the service lose out on urgent missions and also run the risk of pushing customers to other platforms for other purchases. "Walmart and Amazon are both duking it out on ecommerce, and each is keen not to let the other get the upper hand," he said. Where is 30-minute delivery available? The service is available in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Oklahoma City, St.Louis and several other cities, Walmart said, with more expansion opportunities to come. In markets where the service is available for an address, customers will see "Delivery in 30 minutes or less" on the Walmart website or app. The 30-minute-or-less delivery service is available for a $10 fee for Walmart+ members. Customers also have an option of express delivery (in one hour or less), on demand (as soon as three hours) and scheduled (choose a delivery window that best works for your schedule). Prior to the expansion announcement and during Walmart's earnings call on May 21, John David Rainey, Walmart executive vice president and chief financial officer, said sales in the United States utilizing store-fulfilled delivery had more than doubled over the past two years. More than 36% of the orders were delivered in under three hours in the first quarter, and the retailer could reach approximately 60% of the U.S. population in 30 minutes or less.

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