Walmart has launched a new restaurant delivery service featuring Dunkin’ products, marking its first major expansion beyond in-store partnerships like Subway. The initiative, called Walmart Restaurant Delivery, will initially offer Dunkin’ items from Walmart-owned stores before expanding to most of the chain’s 10,000 U.S. locations, including those outside Walmart premises.
The program builds on Walmart’s existing delivery partnerships, such as its collaboration with Subway in select stores. A Walmart spokesperson stated the service aims to enhance convenience by integrating restaurant orders with its broader product offerings. “We see this as a way to continue adding value and convenience for customers within a shopping experience they already know and trust,” the spokesperson said. Orders will be fulfilled through Walmart’s logistics network, which the company describes as a competitive advantage against rivals.
Industry experts suggest Walmart’s move could intensify competition in the food delivery market. Hongseok Jang, an assistant professor of management science at Tulane University, noted that Walmart’s extensive customer base, physical store network, and delivery infrastructure position it as a formidable competitor to established players like Uber Eats and DoorDash. “To me it seems that Walmart is testing its own delivery system to see if they can handle it, and if it is successful there will be a big competition between Walmart and Uber Eats and DoorDash,” Jang said.
Walmart’s announcement frames the service as part of its broader strategy to diversify beyond traditional retail. The company has historically expanded into new markets by leveraging its scale and operational strengths, a pattern CEO John Furner highlighted in a June statement. “We constantly want to learn. We see where the world’s going. Some things apply, some things don’t,” Furner said. “We’ll learn from it and figure out the best way that we can accelerate the business.”
The Dunkin’ partnership represents Walmart’s latest attempt to integrate third-party restaurant delivery into its ecosystem. Unlike competitors that rely solely on delivery platforms, Walmart’s approach combines grocery and household items with restaurant orders, creating a bundled delivery experience. The company has not disclosed a timeline for full rollout but indicated plans to expand the program over the next year.
Walmart’s move follows its broader push into delivery services, including grocery and essentials. The retailer has positioned itself as an “emerging contender” in the restaurant delivery space, signaling its intent to challenge incumbents in a market valued at billions of dollars annually.