Wal-Mart To Test Grocery Delivery Service With Uber, Lyft

(RTTNews) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) said Friday that it will test its grocery delivery service with ride-sharing services Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. within the next two weeks in Denver and Phoenix. The move is part of the retailer's efforts to better compete with online retail giant Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN).

This is in addition to a quiet pilot program that the company started in March for its warehouse chain Sam's Club with Deliv Inc., involving delivery of general merchandise and grocery for business members in Miami.

At the company's annual shareholders meeting, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon will announce its newest pilot program - a last-mile delivery test through services like Uber, Lyft and Deliv.

Wal-Mart provided further details of the grocery delivery pilot program with Uber and Lyft. A customer in one of the test locations can place their grocery order online and select a delivery window.

Wal-Mart's personal shoppers will select and prepare the customer's order and the team may request a driver from one of these services to come to the store, pick up the customer's order, and take it directly to the customer's location.

Customers can pay Wal-Mart the normal $7 to $10 delivery charge online, and need not make any payment to the driver. The company will inform customers that their order is being delivered by a driver from Uber or Lyft.

Michael Bender, EVP and chief operating officer of Walmart Global eCommerce said, "We'll start small and let our customers guide us, but testing new things like last-mile delivery allows us to better evaluate the various ways we can best serve our customers how, when and where they need us."