Walmart is rolling out a delivery subscription

Walmart is bringing the subscription model to its grocery delivery offering across Canada.

Called “Delivery Pass,” the subscription program gives Canadian customers access to unlimited and free next-day delivery of more than 65,000 items from Walmart stores. Subscribers will also be able to access same-day and express delivery at discounted rates.

The program is launching first in the Ottawa market, with subsequent launches planned for Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver ahead of a national rollout later this summer.

“We’re transforming our omnichannel offering to better serve Canadians, aiming to build the most efficient, consistent and affordable way to shop in Canada,” says Laurent Duray, chief ecommerce officer for the retail giant. “Delivery Pass is going to be a gamechanger for Canadians by giving them the products they need, when and how they want them, at the best prices.”

The program is available on a monthly or annual subscription, priced at $8.97 or $89, respectfully – “a low price [consumers] can afford,” according to Ignacio Baladron, VP of omnichannel operations with Walmart Canada. Without a subscription, the standard fee on next-day grocery delivery from Walmart is $7.97.

Grocery delivery has been a booming business on this side of the border in recent years, with start-ups boasting ultra-fast speeds launching across the country last year, while some major retailers have been pairing with existing delivery services such as DoorDash. Sobeys, meanwhile, is continuing to expand its successful Voilà offering across the country.

Still, the impact of inflation is being felt even in the grocery delivery area; 43% of Canadian respondents to the latest EY Future Consumer Index indicated that using such services less would be one way they would cut costs as grocery bills rise.