Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has introduced Express Pickup, a new curbside service designed to make holiday shopping faster and less stressful for customers across the country.
The service allows shoppers to place an order through the Walmart app and have it ready for curbside collection in as little as one hour.
“Place an order in the Walmart app, and it can be ready for curbside pickup in as soon as one hour,” the company shared in its announcement of the new feature.
Unlike some competing services, Walmart is offering Express Pickup at no additional cost, making it a free option for all eligible customers at participating locations.
The rollout begins at 500 stores and is set to expand nationwide in the coming weeks, with the timeline specifically designed to align with Thanksgiving meal shopping.
Not every order will qualify for the one-hour window, as availability depends on eligible items, participating store locations, inventory levels, and overall store capacity.
The launch comes as consumer demand for fast and convenient fulfillment options continues to grow, with curbside pickup emerging as one of the most popular choices among American shoppers.
According to a 2025 Ipsos survey, nearly half of curbside pickup users, at 46%, use the service at least weekly, while 71% say they are likely to use it again in the future.
The same survey found that 46% of delivery customers also order at least weekly, with 73% indicating they plan to continue using delivery as a regular ordering channel.
Beyond curbside pickup, Walmart has been actively working to grow its broader delivery business, including efforts that leverage its existing base of prescription drug customers to expand fulfillment reach.
The Express Pickup initiative reflects a broader retail strategy at Walmart to compete aggressively on convenience during the critical holiday shopping season, when speed and reliability can directly influence customer loyalty.
With major shopping events like Black Friday and the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, the timing of this nationwide rollout positions Walmart to capture consumers who are increasingly prioritizing ease of purchase over in-store browsing.
