One of the largest delivery platforms in the U.S., DoorDash is getting into the growing prescription drug delivery business through a partnership with wholesale giant Sam's Club. 

“Our partnership with DoorDash to launch this new service allows us to not only give our members more convenient healthcare options, but also delivers on our commitment to their overall wellness needs,” said John McDowell, vice president of pharmacy operations and divisional merchandise at Sam’s Club, in a statement. 

DoorDash is tapping Drive, its white-label fulfillment platform for merchants, to power the partnership, which emerged specifically to meet shifting consumer expectations amid COVID.

“Businesses have evolved amidst the pandemic to prioritize the safety of their communities and to adapt to new consumer habits, and our goal is to help merchants meet those demands in a way that’s best for their business,” said Christopher Payne, chief operating officer at DoorDash.  

The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the adoption of prescription drug delivery services. Pharmacies in particular have turned to third parties to compete with online retailers. 

For DoorDash, the partnership comes as the platform teams up with other companies outside of the food category, including PetSmart, Macy's, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, and 7-Eleven. 

DoorDash will provide same-day delivery across Sam Club's 500 locations. 

Sam's Club is offering free delivery on their first two pharmacy orders until the end of the year and then charging a flat fee of $7.99 per order.

Share:
More In Business
Is U.S. Restaurants’ Breakfast Boom Contributing to High Egg Prices?
It’s a chicken-and-egg problem: Restaurants are struggling with record-high U.S. egg prices, but their omelets, scrambles and huevos rancheros may be part of the problem. Breakfast is booming at U.S. eateries. First Watch, a restaurant chain that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, nearly quadrupled its locations over the past decade to 570. Fast-food chains like Starbucks and Wendy's added more egg-filled breakfast items. In normal times, egg producers could meet the demand. But a bird flu outbreak that has forced them to slaughter their flocks is making supplies scarcer and pushing up prices. Some restaurants like Waffle House have added a surcharge to offset their costs.
Trump Administration Shutters Consumer Protection Agency
The Trump administration has ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop nearly all its work, effectively shutting down the agency that was created to protect consumers after the 2008 financial crisis and subprime mortgage-lending scandal. Russell Vought is the newly installed director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought directed the CFPB in a Saturday night email to stop work on proposed rules, to suspend the effective dates on any rules that were finalized but not yet effective, and to stop investigative work and not begin any new investigations. The agency has been a target of conservatives since President Barack Obama created it following the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Load More