Superama, a subsidiary of Walmart Mexico, has started to deliver groceries through instant messaging service WhatsApp.
The battle for online customers
Superama customers can now place their orders via WhatsApp. Deliveries within 90 minutes cost 49 pesos (2.2 euros), while later delivery times cost 39 pesos (1.8 euro). Payment is done as soon as the groceries are delivered.
Superama represents 92 of Walmart’s 2,459 stores in Mexico, which is the retailer’s biggest market outside of the USA in terms of the number of stores. Superama has been taking orders through its website and app for a while. The company also uses Cornershop, an external app that sells items for a large number of other stores.
Walmart recently attempted to purchase Cornershop, which is active in both Mexico and Chili. They were prepared to pay 225 million dollars (200 million euros) for it, but the American supermarket chain was forced back by the Mexican competition watchdog earlier this month. The authority stated that Walmart could not guarantee an even playing field for rivals who also make use of the app.