Coles is extending the reach of its drone delivery service across Australia to Southeast Queensland, transporting products directly from its store to customers’ homes. This is being done in partnership with global on-demand drone delivery company, Wing.
Coles customers in the Gold Coast suburbs of Ormeau, Ormeau Hills, and Yatala are now among the first to pilot the store-to-door drone delivery model, receiving grocery delivery in minutes, directly from the Coles store at Ormeau Village Shopping Centre.
Coles said the service will gradually expand to include other nearby suburbs.
Coles is the first major Australian retailer to trial this new ‘store-to-door’ drone delivery model, with a dedicated fleet of Wing delivery drones co-located in the Coles store car park. Coles team members will process and pack orders, and Wing staff will load the drones and oversee operation of the delivery service.
The Gold Coast area is the third Australian region where Wing drone delivery will be available, having previously been available to residents in parts of Canberra, ACT, and Logan, QLD, since 2019.
Coles head of network development and customer delivery James Geddes said Coles was proud to expand its partnership with Wing with this delivery concept.
“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.
“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.”
As part of the expansion into Southeast Queensland, Wing will also soon be offering Coles items for delivery from the rooftop of Grand Plaza in Logan, Queensland, where it has been operating a drone delivery service for selected on-site businesses, for just over a year.
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.
“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 Southeast Queensland,” Rossi said.
“Since launching our drone delivery service in Logan a few years ago, we’ve heard from customers across Southeast 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.”
Customers can download the Wing, enter their address, and add items to their cart before submitting their order for fulfilment.
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. Wing drone delivery from Coles in Ormeau will be available from 9am to 4:30pm Tuesday to Sunday.
