Walmart Incorporating Mobile Food-Ordering App Into New Convenience Store
By Megan Zielinski, contributing writer
Walmart is pairing together a newly developed food ordering app with their Walmart To Go food service, allowing for customers to pre-order meals directly from smartphones.
Walmart is integrating mobile technology from Bentonville located company, Movista, which specializes in serving retailers, brokers, and manufactures with app-based tools for management. Fast To Go is the first consumer-faced app developed by Movista, made specifically for Walmart. Although, the private company’s main priority is to serve business customers and does not intend to expand future development of consumer-facing apps.
The Fast to Go app, available this past week for free download through ITunes and Google Play, is an even faster option for quick food service the brand-new Bentonville, AR store offers. By ordering through mobile, customers have the opportunity to view the full menu and daily specials, pre-order, customize and schedule a pick-up time of their prepared meals. Teaming up with Bentonville Butcher and Deli, Walmart To Go offers foods such as hot ribs, BBQ brisket, smoked chicken, Reuben sandwiches, and a variety of sides sold as meals and by the pound. Customers can order anything from the breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections. “It's super simple to use and eliminates line time for customers,” states April Seggebruch, co-founder of Movista. “There are a lot of apps in the world, but any app that gets me hot ribs and cold potato salad is magic in my book."
Walmart To Go, the retailer’s first gas station and convenience store, opened up their doors on March 19, carrying everything inside the 5,000-square-foot store, including simple groceries, pet items, baby products, tobacco, wine and beer, fresh coffee, kiosks for floral arrangements, Hallmark cards, and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and even milkshakes machines, soda fountains and a fruit and Greek yogurt smoothie bar — all provided at low-prices that Walmart promises to customers. The store’s social media site states, “Where can you find everyday low prices on quality snacks, take-away meals and gas? At your new Bentonville Walmart To Go, now open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.!”