THE APEX TIMES
Walmart expands Express Delivery with Subway, aiming to take a larger slice of quick food orders
Walmart is rolling restaurant delivery into its Express Delivery push, starting with Subway in select stores and moving toward broader availability this summer.
Walmart is taking another step into the fast-expanding third-party delivery battlefield, adding restaurant meals to its Express Delivery service in the United States. Instead of relying solely on delivery platforms such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, the retailer is using its physical stores and app-based ordering to offer meals alongside groceries and other everyday essentials.
The new offering brings Subway sandwiches into the Walmart app and experience. Customers in participating locations can place an order for Subway either by itself or as part of the same Express Delivery run that brings Walmart items to the door. Retail Technology Innovation Hub said delivery can arrive in as little as 30 minutes or less, positioning the service toward the same “quick pickup” moment that dominates on-demand food apps.
Walmart is framing the move as a way to bundle multiple categories of daily needs into one checkout. In a quote carried by Retail Technology Innovation Hub, Tracy Poulliot, Walmart U.S. EVP of eCommerce and Marketing, said the company is working to bring more of customers’ everyday needs into a single, seamless experience, and that Subway delivery is another way it is using its proximity to customers and scale to simplify day-to-day decisions.
The integration also builds on a long-standing relationship between the two brands. Retail Technology Innovation Hub reported that Subway is Walmart’s largest in-store restaurant tenant, with the partnership dating back to 2004, and that Subway restaurants inside Walmart serve millions of shared customers. Damien Harmon, Subway North America President, said the delivery integration is a natural evolution of that 20-year relationship focused on freshness and convenience.
This rollout is initially limited by geography and store selection. Retail Technology Innovation Hub reported the service is live in select Walmart stores across Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and that it plans to expand to approximately 1,400 locations by the end of the summer. The company’s stated focus appears to be building density in markets where Express Delivery already has operational reach.
The move comes as consumer expectations for speed and convenience keep rising across retail and food. Grocery and meal delivery have become a battleground not only for gig-economy delivery platforms, but also for retailers trying to turn store networks into logistics advantages. Walmart has been steadily expanding fast, app-driven delivery options, including prescription pickup and other convenience services, and this latest step extends that strategy into prepared food.
Still, important details remain unclear from the public announcement. Walmart has not, in the available material, disclosed pricing, delivery fees, which specific Subway products are offered, or how substitution, inventory, and refund processes work for restaurant orders. It also was not specified whether Walmart is using its own last-mile capacity for these meals, routing orders through third-party delivery partners, or combining drivers across services at the store level.
Investors and rivals will be watching whether the restaurant integration changes customer purchasing patterns, increases frequency of Express Delivery orders, or improves the economics of same-store delivery runs. Walmart’s next key announcement will be how quickly it expands beyond the listed states toward the 1,400-location target, and whether it adds additional restaurant partners after Subway.
Why It Matters
- By blending restaurant meals into Express Delivery, Walmart is aiming to keep customers inside its own app experience rather than sending orders out to DoorDash or Uber Eats.
- If the service works operationally, it could strengthen the economic case for fast delivery by increasing basket size and utilization of store-based fulfillment.
- The rollout tests whether retailers can translate store foot traffic and logistics into a meaningful slice of quick-prepared-food demand.
- Competitive pressure may intensify across both retail delivery networks and restaurant delivery platforms as retailers broaden beyond groceries into meals.
Sources
Key Facts
- Walmart is adding Subway delivery to its Express Delivery service in select U.S. stores.
- Customers can order Subway through the Walmart app and, either alone or alongside a Walmart Express Delivery order.
- Retail Technology Innovation Hub reported delivery can arrive in as little as 30 minutes or less.
- The service is live in select stores across Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
- Walmart plans to expand the Subway-integration to approximately 1,400 locations by the end of the summer.
- Retail Technology Innovation Hub said Subway is Walmart’s largest in-store restaurant tenant, with a partnership dating to 2004.
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