The Kroger Co. and Drone Express today said they are collaborating on a pilot project to offer grocery delivery via autonomous drones in Centerville, Ohio. The partners plan to launch a second pilot at a Ralphs store in California this coming summer.
“Kroger's new drone delivery pilot is part of the evolution of our rapidly growing and innovative e-commerce business – which includes pickup, delivery, and ship and reached more than $10 billion in sales in 2020,” stated Jody Kalmbach, group vice president of product experience at Kroger. “The pilot reinforces the importance of flexibility and immediacy to customers, powered by modern, cost-effective, and efficient last-mile solutions. We're excited to test drone delivery and gain insights that will inform expansion plans, as well as future customer solutions.”
Cincinnati-based Kroger claimed that it is the largest supermarket chain in the U.S. by revenue, with nearly 500,000 associates who serve more than 9 million customers daily through digital shoppping and 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names. It has also been exploring automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) with Ocado Group PLC.
East Hanover, N.J.-based Drone Express is a division of TELEGRID Technologies Inc. Founded in 1984, TELEGRID provides technologies including communications and networking equipment and systems for U.S. military and government agencies. In 2018, the company founded Drone Express to integrate its state-of-the-art, wireless mesh network with U.S.-made technologies for drone delivery services.
Partners to pilot drone delivery of groceries
Drone Express recently established a facility in the southwest Ohio community of Monroe as a hub for manufacturing, testing, and piloting of autonomous drones for commercial package delivery. It said the pilot will offer customers flexibility because its technology can enable packages to be delivered to a smartphone user's location rather than simply to a street address.
Customers will thus be able to order delivery of picnic supplies to a park, sunscreen to the beach, or condiments to a backyard cookout, for instance.
Kroger said it is designing bundled product offerings within the current weight limits for drone delivery, which is about 5 lb. For example, the retailer will offer a baby care bundle with wipes and formula, a child wellness bundle with over-the-counter medications and fluids, and a S'mores bundle with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.
Using Kroger.com/DroneDelivery, customers will be able to place orders and have eligible orders delivered within as little as 15 minutes.
“Autonomous drones have unlimited potential to improve everyday life, and our technology opens the way to safe, secure, environmentally friendly deliveries for Kroger customers,” said Beth Flippo, chief technology officer of TELEGRID. “The possibilities for customers are endless – we can enable Kroger customers to send chicken soup to a sick friend or get fast delivery of olive oil if they run out while cooking dinner.”
Test flights begin this week
Drone Express will start test flights this week near the Kroger Marketplace at 1095 South Main St., in Centerville, Ohio. The flights will be managed by licensed Drone Express pilots from an on-site trailer with additional off-site monitoring. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin later this spring.
“The launch of the pilot in Centerville is the culmination of months of meticulous research and development by Kroger and Drone Express to better serve and meet the needs of our customers,” said Ethan Grob, director of last-mile strategy and product at Kroger. “We look forward to progressing from test flights to customer deliveries this spring, introducing one more way for our customers to experience Kroger.”
“Kroger and Drone Express made a great choice in piloting this program in Centerville – a community with a robust business network focused on progress and stability near the birthplace of aviation,” said Brooks Compton, mayor of Centerville. “Families here have the power to transform grocery delivery around the nation and the globe. We look forward to placing our first order.”
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