Dive Brief:
- Walmart has launched drone delivery operations in Florida's Greater Orlando area with Wing, adding momentum to the two companies' expanding partnership, according to an announcement Wednesday.
- With the launch, over 50,000 homes, business and apartment buildings in Central Florida can now receive deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes via Wing drones. The drones can shuttle various daily essentials like school supplies and electronics from two Walmart locations – one in Apopka, another in Clermont, per the release.
- Walmart and Wing plan to expand their collaboration in Florida further in the coming weeks, with delivery coverage expanding to cover three additional Walmart stores in Ocoee, Clermont and Haines City.
Dive Insight:
The Florida launch advances Walmart and Wing's growing collaboration across the U.S., with the partners planning on expanding coverage to reach over 270 Walmart locations in 2027. Other markets set to receive Walmart deliveries via Wing in the future include New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, Salt Lake City, and Memphis, Tennessee, per a June announcement.
The Orlando area is Wing's first market in Florida, with the Alphabet-owned drone operator citing the location's diverse and growing population as a key reason to launch service there. The expansion will help residents avoid lengthy drives for products they could have delivered quicker via drone, along with visitors looking to quickly restock on vacation essentials, per the announcement.
“Working with Wing allows us to bring Orlando customers a wide assortment of everyday items through one of the fastest and most innovative delivery options available," Greg Cathey, SVP of e-commerce fulfillment transformation at Walmart, said in the announcement.
Wing's drones in Florida can transport up to 2.5 pounds per flight currently, but the company plans to increase the maximum weight to five pounds. The drones can fly up to 60 miles per hour. Upon arrival at a destination, the drone uses a tether to lower packages to the ground.
While Wing is just beginning its foray in Florida, Walmart has tapped into drone delivery in the Sunshine State before.
In 2022, Walmart launched drone delivery with DroneUp in the Tampa and Orlando areas. The two companies ended their contract and operations together at the end of 2024, per an Axios report at the time. Two of the Walmart stores DroneUp delivered from in Florida are being or will be serviced by Wing.
