In this Feb. 27, 2020, file photo, the DoorDash app is shown on a smartphone in New York. (AP Photo, File)
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.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
