Drone delivery for food and drinks is taking off in Ireland and for good reason
Drones offer fast, safe, and quiet home delivery and can deliver to a 5km radius in less than three minutes.
And – importantly – they can be up to eight times more efficient in terms of C02 emitted during delivery when compared to conventional petrol vehicles, according to a report from Maynooth University in Ireland in 2022.
So they offer the perfect solution for helping cut down emissions as we work towards our NetZeroby40 goal.
For all these reasons, Coca-Cola HBC – through our Ventures arm – has proudly invested in Manna Aero, an Irish start-up that’s leading the way in food and beverage drone deliveries.
Manna has conducted over 140,000 successful deliveries since they set up in Ireland four years ago.
Now the company’s in the final stages of testing the next generation of drones as they prepare to expand to a new, more densely populated city suburb – Blanchardstown – in November 2023.
The new drones will be able to fly in 97% of Irish weather – including heat, rain, and snow.
Backed by Coca-Cola HBC through its Ventures arm, Manna Aero plans to expand into Europe in 2024.
Marcel Martin, Coca-Cola HBC’s Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, says drones have incredible potential for the crucial last-mile delivery of food and drinks.
The delivery drones are great for consumers and the technology is helping revolutionise last- mile delivery. They’re a perfect example of how partnership and innovation can help us reduce carbon emissions to reach our Net Zero by 40 goal and contribute to a better world.
Manna Aero’s Chief Executive, Bobby Healy, began his career building video games and travel logistics companies before founding the company.
He says that investors like Coca-Cola HBC are crucial to sustainable delivery now and in the future: “We believe that our technology can play a significant role in the global effort to mitigate climate impacts, offering an immediate, efficient, and greener solution for last-mile delivery.
“We’re proud to be in a strategic partnership with Coca-Cola HBC and excited to be embarking on our important journey across Europe in 2024.”
