Gold Coast shoppers will be looking to the skies for their grocery delivery, as Coles launches Australia’s first drone delivery service directly from the store to customers’ homes.
The trial service, which uses Wing drone delivery products, will bring Coles groceries direct to Gold Coast homes within minutes.
Customers in the Gold Coast suburbs of Ormeau, Ormeau Hills, and Yatala will be among the first to pilot the store-to-door drone delivery model, launching on November 2.
The service offers customers grocery delivery in minutes, directly from the Coles store at Ormeau Village Shopping Centre.
The service will gradually expand to include other nearby suburbs, delivering 500 grocery items including bread, fresh produce, convenience meals, snacks, healthcare items and household essentials.
The groceries will be packed by Coles staff before they hand over the order to Wing staff, who will in turn load the drones and oversee operation of the delivery service.
Coles head of network development and customer delivery James Geddes said Coles was proud to expand its partnership with Wing with the first store-to-door drone delivery concept in Australia.
“The service will provide a convenient and effective way of delivering everyday essentials to our customers’ homes in a matter of minutes,” Mr Geddes said.
“Customers can now get those urgent items they need in a hurry, delivered by drone, directly from the local Coles Ormeau Village store.
“Whether they’ve forgotten to pick up a loaf of bread or fresh milk during their weekly shop or are missing an ingredient for dinnertime meal prep or school lunches, they can now get those products delivered quickly, without having to drive to the store.
“This new service reinforces our commitment to enhancing the way our customers shop with Coles by delivering anytime, anywhere, anyhow shopping while supporting our ambition to be Australia’s most sustainable supermarket by continuing to reduce the number of trucks on the road.”
Wing Australia general manager Simon Rossi said the company was investing in a range of pilot programs.
“We’re excited to be teaming up with Coles on this Australian first store-to-door drone delivery service, helping to expand the delivery options available to Coles customers by bringing affordable, sustainable and fast drone delivery to the skies of South East Queensland,” Mr Rossi said.
“Since launching our drone delivery service in Logan a few years ago, we’ve heard from customers across South East Queensland who are keen to see drone delivery expand to their region.
“We’re delighted that through this pilot program with Coles, for the first time, drone delivery will be available to residents in the City of Gold Coast.”
Upon arrival, the drone hovers in the air and slowly lowers the package to the ground at the customer’s delivery location for a contactless delivery.
Customers will be able to use the drone service from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
Coles partnered with Wing in March 2022, trialling the drone service from Wing’s facility in Canberra.
The successful trial delivered more than 5000 Coles items, with many customers using the service to order bread, milk and eggs to be delivered to their door.
Wing has also recently partnered with Mirvac, launching a pilot program in Ipswich in 2023.
The partnership will transform the urban retail space, as customers can use drone technology to have items delivered from Mirvac’s Orion Springfield Central shopping centre.
“Over the last few years, consumer demand for drone delivery has grown rapidly, as people expect faster, convenient, and more sustainable delivery options,” Mr Rossi said.
“On-demand drone delivery can help address the costly last-mile delivery challenge by reducing road congestion and emissions while creating new economic opportunities for retailers and communities and providing consumers with more contactless delivery options.”
Mirvac retail general manager Kelly Miller said this new delivery option would improve the customer experience overall.
“As a business, we are heavily invested in collaborating with the right people and brands to support the overall growth and success of our retail partners,” she said.
Mr Rossi said Wing planned to further expand its delivery services with other companies.
“While Wing has traditionally provided delivery services directly to residential and business customers, to further accelerate our technology development, and focus on what we do best, over the next few years, we’ll be increasingly working with real estate and logistics partners to expand their delivery options, making fast drone delivery affordable and sustainable for them and their customers,” he said.
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