Drug Wars Heat Up as Walmart Adds Same-Day Rx Delivery
New Grubhub ad tools, adios Amazon Today, Rite Aid leaves Rust Belt
Today we’ve got some new winners — Walmart’s new Rx option, Grubhub’s expanded ad offerings — and some losers — say goodbye to a bunch of Rite Aids and to Amazon Today.
We’ll be off Friday to attend the HNGRY Summit, returning Monday.
This week’s edition is brought to you by Curbivore 2025.
Today:
Walmart Pushes Drugs, Promptly
Grubhub Adds Ad Options
Chart Time | Rite Aid Retrenches in Rust Belt
Amazon Axes Specific Same Day Service
RX | Walmart Launches Nationwide Same-Day Pharma Delivery
Walmart’s doubling down on prescriptions with the launch of same-day pharmacy delivery, now live in Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin. The Bentonville Big Boxer is making this a big convenience play, as Rx orders will be integrated into a consumer’s general merchandise order, meaning you can get your Ozempic and your Twinkie’s delivered at the same time! The service is free for Walmart+ users, $9.99 per order otherwise, and will eventually expand to 49 states and include a 30-minute Express Delivery option as well.
The Big Picture: It’s getting competitive out there for drug dealers… Amazon just announced a similar Rx + general order delivery option, but it’s only live as a pilot in Phoenix. The 3PDs are also making plays for health bucks, with Uber just announcing a new partnership with NationsBenefits to allow members to use their flex cards for qualified Uber rides, and to pay for select grocery deliveries. No wonder Walgreens and CVS are on their back feet!
EVENTS | Delivery & Mobility Comes Together at Curbivore 2025
Industry Dive just called Curbivore one of the “9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2025.” Returning to the Downtown LA Arts District this April 10th and 11th, Curbivore brings together the world’s foremost fleet operators, restaurateurs, regulators, retailers, startups, technologists and policy makers to discuss the intersection of transportation systems, small business, urban design and commerce.
Score your Early Bird Tickets now and save.
ADS | Grubhub Adds Pre- and Post-Checkout Campaigns
Grubhub is beefing up its advertising option, with two new ad tools. For merchants, advertisers can now run listings pre-checkout: on the homepage, search results and cuisine category pages, including control over frequency, location and targeting. Brands get a new post-checkout option, allowing for offers like cash back and rewards, memberships, streaming subscriptions, and more.
The Big Picture: Grubhub’s ad tools for merchants are powered by Koddi, while its brand ads are in partnership with Rokt; Grubhub parent co. JET announced a worldwide tie-up with the latter ad tech firm earlier this month. Just Eat Takeaway has been working hard to mature its advertising suite, as it’s leaving some money on the table compared to its peers. In 2023, ad revenue (ex Grubhub) was €208M (~$224M,) while Uber is now bringing in over $1B from advertising.
CHART TIME | Oofda! Rite Aid Rips Off the Midwestern Band-Aid
As we mentioned in the first story, it’s a tough time to be a traditional pharmacy retailer. And if Walgreens and CVS are sick, Rite Aid is on its death bed. Supermarket News found the retailer is really vanishing from the rust belt, as it closed 171 locations in Ohio and Michigan. A quick search on RiteAid.com reveals zero stores left operating when you punch in cities like Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.
FULFILLMENT | Amazon Shutters Same-Day from Local Retailers
Amazon Today is shutting down, with the ecommerce giant sunsetting the product on January 24th as it looks to simplify its logistics offerings. The not particularly well known service picked up inventory from retailers’ local stores, using them as neighborhood hubs for same day deliveries. Amazon notes it’s seen a “growing overlap” between Today and its myriad other shipping options.
The Big Picture: Amazon launched the product back in 2022, working with a true B-tier of retailers: PacSun, GNC, SuperDry, Diesel, Sur La Table and 100% Pure. The offering was available to Prime members in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Amazon states that those retailers will largely move over to one of its other same-day or next-day delivery options, which makes things simpler for a legacy retailer that otherwise had to maintain a 99% pickup readiness rate (meaning orders must be picked, packed and staged within 60 mins of notification.) Keep an eye on Walmart GoLocal, a somewhat similar offering from the other mega-shopping platform.
A Few Good Links
FAA finishes new regulations for air taxis and delivery drones. Delivery.com partners with Cartwheel. Zomato looks to raise $1B. Zepto touts expansion plans. Denny’s retrenches. California cracking down on earned wage access (gig workers have emerged as a major market for those products.) Foursquare shuttering app — who knew it was still around? Jollibee launches rewards program. Kentucky Fried Chicken Rain. Trader Joe’s union scores NLRB win. Amazon loves Phoenix. Green Dot adding embedded finance offerings. 7-Eleven calls for emerging brands. Epson scores California Fish Grill deal. DHL building hub in KY. Meet the Advanced Air Mobility Institute. Luup raises ¥3B to expand Japanese micromobility. Marco’s Pizza embraces challenger mentality. Freightliner delivers 29 electric trucks. Indian electric TNC BluSmart can’t find enough EVs. Amazon Prime adds fuel rewards. Starbucks sales drop, coffee giant suspends 2025 guidance.
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