al-Mart Stores is testing a service to deliver food directly from its stores to customers' refrigerators in the United States, expanding rivalry with e-commerce giant Amazon.com.
Wal-Mart Pickup-Grocery Store in Bentonville, United States 06/06/2015 REUTERS / Rick Wilking
Photo: ReutersFood delivery and food kits are emerging as the next frontier of competition among US retailers.
The world's largest retail chain said on Friday it is working in partnership with August Home, a provider of smart locks and home accessories, to test service with certain customers in Silicon Valley.
As part of the test, Wal-Mart handlers gain access to customers' homes through a valid one-time password. Once inside the residence of the customers they put the products inside the refrigerator and leave other orders in the house.
Consumers receive notifications when product delivery is occurring and can watch the process in real time through August Home's application-operated surveillance cameras.
Amazon's grocery business is expected to be boosted by last month's acquisition of Whole Foods supermarket chain. In addition, the online retailer is also consolidating more deeply into the restaurant business.
This Friday, Amazon Restaurants joined Olo online ordering company in a partnership that will help Olo customers connect with Amazon delivery services.
Competition in the food kits business is also heating up. Supermarket operator Albertsons Cos said it will buy the packaged food delivery service, while rival Ralphs of Kroger has begun selling its products in its stores this week.
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