Dive Brief:
- Papa Johns has partnered with Walmart to offer delivery of its pizzas, sides and desserts using Walmart Express Delivery from restaurants near Walmart stores, according to a Thursday press release.
- Delivery through Walmart will be offered in select markets starting this fall, before expanding to thousands of participating locations nationwide.
- Papa Johns is the latest chain to partner with Walmart to offer delivery services. Earlier in September, Dunkin’ partnered with the retailer to offer delivery from 150 Dunkin’ restaurants within Walmarts and later Dunkin’ units outside the retailer.
Dive Insight:
Walmart began offering restaurant delivery in June when it partnered with Subway, its largest in-store restaurant tenant, to let consumers place Subway orders through Walmart’s app or Walmart.com.
Eligible customers can order from Papa Johns via the restaurant tab on Walmart’s app or website. The tab was added following Walmart’s partnership with Subway. Customers can bundle their pizza orders with Walmart items or just order Papa Johns menu items on their own.
“By bringing our focus on quality to Walmart Express Delivery, we’re giving customers an opportunity to try Papa Johns in new occasions as they shop, while also introducing the brand to new people,” Chris Lyn-Sue, Papa Johns’ global chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
Bringing in new customers could help improve Papa John’s same-store sales, which have waned in recent quarters as pizza chains have become less popular amid the proliferation of restaurant types available for delivery.
Walmart has been working to expand how customers can shop, and CEO and President John Furner told investors in August that the retailer will continue building out its food delivery capabilities.
“In the past, customers may have thought about Walmart primarily for groceries and general merchandise. Today, we’re expanding beyond that,” Furner said. “Meal solutions, prepared food partnerships like the one we announced with Subway and faster fulfillment allow us to participate in a much broader share of everyday food spending.”
