Manna drones to deliver Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta and Sprite in Oranmore
The drone delivery service is available now in Oranmore, Galway – the largest commercial drone delivery trial of its kind in the world – with plans for further roll-out to Irish towns in the coming months.
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has partnered with Manna Drone Delivery to support faster and more sustainable delivery of our products. The drone delivery service is available now in Oranmore, Galway – the largest commercial drone delivery trial of its kind in the world - with plans for further roll-out to Irish towns in the coming months.
The trial in Oranmore delivers products up to 2kg within the town of circa 10,000 residents and the provider offers deliveries from leading grocery outlets, take-aways, pharmacies and bookshops. Now, soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range are also available for delivery; either added to baskets or simply by direct purchase.
Over the last year, Coca-Cola has responded to consumer needs for more occasions at-home, accelerating its ecommerce strategy. Partnerships with food aggregators and online retailers now account for 11 percent of its net sales revenue.
The new partnership with Manna also supports the company's commitment to reduce carbon emissions. It has reduced total energy use by 29 percent since 2010 and continue to explore new low carbon technologies to meet future targets. Manna offers a safe, faster and more sustainable delivery solution, proven ten times more efficient than road-based delivery.
“The pandemic has naturally increased ‘at-home’ occasions, with consumers seeking to create special experiences at home. In essence, our partnership with Manna will be our first ‘direct-to-consumer’ offering – delivering our drinks directly and rapidly to homes across Oranmore, with or without a take-away or other delivery,” said Annmarie Markey Coca-Cola HBC’s head of ecommerce.
“This exciting partnership with Manna builds on our strategy to make our products available to consumers 24/7, with a more agile route-to-market. It also supports our commitment to sustainability, exploring exciting new technology, to help to reduce carbon emissions.”
“We are delighted to partner with Coca-Cola HBC to enhance our ordering options for consumers in Oranmore, with the option to add one of the world’s most popular soft drinks to their purchase,” said Michael Cunningham, Manna’s head of partnerships.
Drone deliveries offer a safe, greener, faster and more private delivery solution. The technology has proven itself to be ten times more efficient than traditional road-based delivery options. “We look forward to working with Coca-Cola HBC to solidify this partnership as we seek to expand our offerings to additional towns and cities across the country throughout the summer,” he added.
Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Sprite and the Schweppes range will be available for delivery via the Manna platform. Manna Drone Delivery was the first company to receive an LUC (European-wide license to fly commercial drone delivery) from the Irish Aviation Authority this month. Manna’s drones fly at 60 kmph and delivery time is approximately 3 minutes flying at an altitude of 60 metres. When delivering, the drone lowers to hover at a height of 15 metres before a biodegradable linen thread descends and safely delivers to a pre-vetted delivery location in the customer’s garden.
