With what feels like most of the Eastern Seaboard under water, it seems appropriate that one of Australia’s largest supermarkets takes to the air for deliveries.
More than 250 of its most popular grocery items will be available as Coles partners with the on-demand drone delivery service Wing. While not (currently) underwater, Canberrans will be the first to benefit from the new service.
The drone delivery pilot will offer a selected range of items including bread, fresh produce, snacks, convenience meals, health care items, kitchen essentials, and even toilet paper. There is no minimum spend and no delivery fee.
Customers order using the Wing app, and a drone delivers the order for a completely contactless delivery.
Coles chief executive eCommerce Ben Hassing said drone delivery was the next evolution in delivery technology.
“We are passionate about finding innovative ways to help our customers to shop with us and we aim to deliver anytime, anywhere, anyhow shopping,” Hassing said.
Wing Australia general manager Simon Rossi said, “Whether you’ve run out of milk and eggs for breakfast, forgotten to pick up a loaf of bread for school lunches, or are just after a fresh ‘grab and go’ snack, customers in our delivery service area in Canberra can now get those urgent items they need in a hurry, delivered by drone.”
Rossi said the company had seen a significant increase in its on-demand drone delivery service.
“Wing made more than 100,000 deliveries in Australia in 2021, and strong demand for drone delivery has continued in 2022. Wing has already made more than 30,000 deliveries in Australia this year,” he said.
Wing operates 8am to 4.30pm on weekdays and Saturday, and 9am to 4pm on Sundays. Customers can place a delivery during this time via the Wing app available to download on the App Store or Google Play.
