Coles takes food deliveries to new heights

Coles has launched a pilot drone delivery service in South East Queensland in collaboration with drone delivery company Wing.

From Wednesday, 2 November, 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, offering grocery delivery in minutes, directly from the Coles store at Ormeau Village Shopping Centre¹.

The service will gradually expand to include other nearby suburbs, delivering 500 Coles grocery items including bread, fresh produce, convenience meals, snacks, healthcare items and some household essentials².

Coles team members will process and pack orders, and Wing staff will load the drones and oversee operation of the delivery service.

Once at the customer destination, the drone slows down, hovers, descends to a delivery height of about 7 m above ground, lowers the package to the ground on a tether and automatically releases the package in the desired delivery area. The drone does not land and there is no need to unclip or assist with the delivery of the package. The drone then returns to the delivery facility.

Coles Head of Network Development and Customer Delivery James Geddes said Coles was proud to expand its partnership with Wing with the first-ever store-to-door drone delivery concept in Australia.

“We are delighted to be expanding our drone delivery pilot program with Wing to our Queensland customers. The service will provide a convenient and effective way of delivering everyday essentials to our customers’ homes in a matter of minutes,” Geddes said.

The Coles drone delivery expansion into Queensland follows a successful pilot program launched in Canberra earlier this year, where Coles co-located its products at Wing’s drone delivery facility. Since the Canberra pilot program began in March 2022, more than 5000 Coles deliveries have been made through Wing, with some of the most popular items including fresh fruit, milk, bread and eggs, along with confectionery, snacks and cold drinks.

Wing Australia General Manager Simon Rossi said the company is investing in a range of pilot programs, designed to help enable drone delivery at scale, and bring delivery to more Australians.

“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.”

_{1. The drone delivery pilot will be available in the following suburbs: Ormeau (4208), Ormeau Hills (4208), Yatala (4207), Note: not all addresses within these suburbs will be eligible for delivery. While most deliveries typically take about 10 minutes or less, delivery time may vary.}

_{2. Not all products available in store are available on the Wing drone delivery service.}