Walmart launches 1-hour grocery delivery in GTA with Instacart partnership

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Walmart Canada says it is starting to roll out one-hour grocery delivery today for customers in parts of the Greater Toronto Area.

The discount grocer says it's partnered with Instacart, a California-based company, to provide the service.

Shoppers use the Instacart website or app to place their order, which is then picked out and delivered by Instacart employees.

The one-hour delivery offering will expand to Winnipeg on Sept. 27, and possibly to other markets later.

Walmart Canada already offers next-day delivery, as well as the option to order online and pick up in-store, in parts of the GTA.

Many Canadian grocers have recently started to grow their e-commerce offerings as they face increased pressure after tech titan Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market.

Loblaw Companies Ltd. also partnered with Instacart to offer home delivery and plans to "blanket the country" with online grocery services this year.

Sobeys Inc., on the other hand, signed a partnership deal with British company Ocado Group to build a customer fulfillment centre that will store food and automate the food selection process. Its service will launch in the GTA in about two years.