Walmart, Zipline Launch 30-Minute Drone Delivery at Princeton Supercenter

Walmart and Zipline began drone deliveries from the Walmart Supercenter at 701 W Princeton Drive, introducing a new option for nearby customers to receive small orders in as fast as 30 minutes. The service, which launched Jan. 15, 2026, covers eligible items up to 5.5 pounds, including fresh and frozen food, pantry staples, baby formula and other essentials.

Zipline’s aircraft use multiple redundant checks, have FAA approvals and include a parachute option as part of the company’s safety systems. Princeton is the 17th city in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area to receive Zipline-enabled Walmart delivery, part of a broader regional rollout that leverages Zipline’s global delivery experience and safety record.

For Walmart associates, the new delivery channel changes how last-mile fulfillment is handled at the store level. Orders destined for drone delivery will require precise picking, packing and staging to meet weight and packaging limits. That can affect scheduling and workflows for front-end and grocery associates who currently handle online order assembly and curbside pickup. Store managers will need to assign responsibilities for drone loading and coordination with Zipline operations, and shift supervisors may adjust shift assignments or add short training sessions to ensure safety protocols are followed.

The program’s 5.5-pound weight limit means many bulky grocery orders will continue to rely on traditional fulfillment and third-party or company delivery drivers. Still, the rapid 30-minute option could shift a segment of high-turnover, time-sensitive orders away from other fulfillment channels, altering daily task mixes for associates in the pickup and delivery pipeline.

At scale, drone delivery introduces new workplace dynamics: coordination between store teams and drone operators, the need for consistent packaging and labeling, and tighter time windows for order readiness. Zipline’s emphasis on safety and FAA approvals aims to reduce operational risk at the loading point and in surrounding neighborhoods, but stores will still need clear procedures for secure handoff, risk mitigation and liability tracking.

Walmart employs 175,679 associates in Texas, a workforce large enough to absorb new operational roles but one that will require communication and training to integrate drone delivery into existing retail operations. Managers should expect to update standard operating procedures and to inform associates of any new responsibilities tied to drone launches.

The Princeton rollout is a test of how drones will fit alongside established fulfillment methods. For associates, the immediate tasks are practical: learn new packing and staging rules, follow safety checklists and be prepared for adjustments in daily workloads. Over time, this technology could create specialized roles at stores and hubs; for now, employees and managers will be watching how the program affects shop-floor logistics and customer demand.