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(Walmart)

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Walmart Inc. will start delivering refrigerated prescriptions to homes as the world’s largest retailer looks to expand the reach of its pharmacy and deliveries.

The medications, including Ozempic, insulin and liquid amoxicillin, the common pink antibiotic, will be fulfilled from Walmart stores in specialized insulated bags. Shoppers can receive them along with groceries and other products in a single online order, which can be delivered as fast as 30 minutes. The deliveries, which customers will need to be at home to receive, are available starting Sept. 22.

Walmart ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America, and No. 1 on the wholesale/retail carriers list.

Walmart is delivering more goods and at a faster pace, using its network of about 4,600 U.S. stores as an advantage — and intensifying its competition with Amazon.com Inc. and other retailers.

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Ozempic and other refrigerated drugs will be fulfilled from Walmart stores in specialized insulated bags. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg)Ìý

Amazon.com Inc. ranks No. 1 on the TT 100 list of the largest logistics carriers in North America, No. 15 on the private carriers list and No. 1 on the Top 50 Global Freight list.

Refrigerated medications, which make up about 30% of Walmart’s prescription transactions, had previously only been available for in-store pickup. Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy at Walmart, said that the drugs now excluded from delivery are mostly those with tighter restrictions, such as controlled substances. The company can now deliver 90% of prescription medications in 49 states.

Amazon, which also offers same-day delivery of refrigerated medicine, last year expanded its same-day pharmacy service. Large U.S. retail pharmacies and mail-order pharmacies generally offer delivery of refrigerated prescriptions within a business day. Walmart runs the fifth largest U.S. pharmacy measured by prescription revenue, according to Drug Channels Institute.

Testing of Walmart’s delivery of prescriptions began last year, Host said, adding that the pharmacy delivery service has brought in new customers. Delivery is free for members of Walmart’s loyalty program, Walmart+, and costs $9.95 for customers without it.

Walmart is steadily expanding its delivery services, and the company has said that higher-speed fulfillment times have convinced some shoppers to pay a premium. Competitors including Kroger Co. and Target Corp. are also looking to offer faster and more delivery options to win over consumers.

Kroger ranks No. 31 on the private carriers list.

In addition to insulin and GLP-1 treatments, which have surged in popularity due their ability to help users lose weight and reduce cravings, Walmart will deliver biological drugs for autoimmune diseases and specific eye drops.