Zipline scale-up
Supply Chain Dive reports that Walmart will add 300 new drone delivery sites across the United States through a multi-year partnership with Zipline, according to a Nov. 5 announcement. The retailer has worked with Zipline since the program launched in 2021; Zipline currently runs 21 of Walmart’s drone locations.
Shoppers see drone delivery as an option in the Walmart app or website when their address falls within range. Orders land in the front yard, backyard, or driveway, not at the curb only.
570-site network and Amazon rivalry
Walmart began 2026 with 66 active drone delivery locations and has been adding sites steadily, including an expansion with Wing announced in January that targets more than 270 Walmart locations by 2027. The additional Zipline footprint pushes planned drone sites to at least 570, a nearly ninefold increase, Supply Chain Dive notes.
That pace keeps Walmart near Amazon, which plans drone delivery capability in nearly 500 cities by the end of this year. Speed is the pitch: customers within range can receive tens of thousands of items in 30 minutes or less. Walmart cites 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a store as the physical base for a localized national network.
Volume and membership pull
Customer uptake has picked up after early hesitation. In May, Walmart said it completed its millionth drone delivery, with a little over 40% of those in the first quarter; Supply Chain Dive reports that volume has since doubled.
On a Q2 earnings call, CEO John Furner said customers who use fast delivery shop more often, engage more deeply, and are more likely to join Walmart+. Greg Cathey, senior vice president of e-commerce fulfillment transformation, said in a statement that store proximity lets Walmart extend the option to more communities nationwide with Zipline.
Zipline funding
The same day Walmart detailed the expanded partnership, Zipline said it raised $1.5 billion in new funding to grow U.S. manufacturing facilities and hiring, Supply Chain Dive reported.
