Restaurant delivery is becoming a bigger part of how major retailers compete for convenience-focused customers across the U.S. On September 3, Walmart said it is expanding that push through a new collaboration with Inspire Brands that will let shoppers order Dunkin’ items through Walmart’s app and website. The program starts with Dunkin’ restaurants already operating inside Walmart stores, then is expected to expand far beyond those in-store counters.
Walmart and Dunkin’ formally launch a new delivery partnership
Walmart announced the collaboration on September 3, saying customers will be able to order Dunkin’ beverages and food alongside their Walmart purchases through the company’s digital ordering platform. According to Walmart, the launch begins with the 150 Dunkin’ locations that operate inside Walmart stores. The company also said the service is intended to grow to the majority of Dunkin’s roughly 10,000 U.S. locations outside Walmart stores.
The setup is designed to place Dunkin’ inside the same shopping flow customers already use for groceries, pharmacy items, and general merchandise. Walmart said shoppers who are eligible by delivery address will see Dunkin’ appear in the Restaurants tab in the Walmart app, where they can browse the menu, customize items, and check out in a single transaction. Inspire Brands, Dunkin’s parent company, is participating through the broader agreement Walmart announced this week.
The scale is notable because it moves restaurant ordering beyond the retailer’s in-store food tenants and into a national restaurant brand’s broader off-premises business. Restaurant Dive reported that the Dunkin’ addition follows Walmart’s earlier move into restaurant delivery with Subway and gives the retailer a larger foothold in prepared-food ordering. Walmart described the expansion as part of its effort to pair restaurant meals with the delivery network it already uses for everyday shopping.
What the rollout means in local markets where Walmart and Dunkin’ overlap
For customers, the immediate impact depends on whether they live near one of the 150 Dunkin’ locations already operating inside a Walmart. Walmart has not released a full public list in its September 3 announcement identifying every city or state where those delivery-enabled in-store Dunkin’ units are located. What is confirmed is that availability will be determined by a shopper’s delivery address and surfaced inside the Walmart app or website.
That means the local footprint will likely vary widely, even within states that already have many standalone Dunkin’ restaurants. The broader expansion could eventually matter much more than the in-store launch because Walmart said the partnership is expected to reach the majority of Dunkin’s U.S. locations outside Walmart stores. Until that phase is implemented, though, customers in many markets may not yet see Dunkin’ listed as an option.
The geography matters because Walmart says most Americans already live close to one of its stores. In its announcement and related trade coverage, the company pointed to its national store base and delivery reach as a reason it believes restaurant delivery can scale quickly. For local shoppers, the practical takeaway is simple: some households may gain access immediately, while others will have to wait until Walmart discloses or activates more participating Dunkin’ locations.
Walmart says convenience and delivery scale are driving the expansion
Walmart tied the move directly to convenience and to the strength of its last-mile delivery network. In the company’s statement, Greg Cathey, senior vice president of e-commerce fulfillment transformation at Walmart, said the retailer sees the future of retail as meeting customers where they are and simplifying routine purchases. That framing matches Walmart’s larger strategy of using its existing logistics network to add more categories to a single order.
The delivery economics also help explain the timing. Trade publication Nation’s Restaurant News reported that Walmart’s fast-delivery service for groceries, pharmacy, and general merchandise, delivered in 30 minutes or less, grew 48% in the prior quarter, while total delivery sales rose 40%. Walmart said that fast-delivery service is now available in 38 markets, giving the company a ready-made system for adding restaurant food to trips already moving through its network.
Dunkin’ also framed the partnership as an incremental access play rather than a menu or store redesign. In Walmart’s announcement, Dunkin’ Brand President Scott Murphy said bringing Dunkin’ into the Walmart shopping experience creates another way for guests to get beverages and meals quickly through a platform they already use. For customers, that means the most likely near-term change is not a new product but a new ordering channel, with wider availability expected as the rollout expands.