Aviant, a Norwegian startup, aims to address the lack of food delivery services in rural areas of Scandinavia by introducing drone delivery to residents, starting with Värmdö, Sweden. The island, located just eight miles from Stockholm, has a population of around 46,000, which can swell to 100,000 in summer, but offers limited hot food delivery options.
Aviant’s co-founder and CEO Lars Erik Fagernæs presented a map showing regions where established delivery services, like Foodora and Wolt, do not operate, indicating approximately 87,000 people currently lack home delivery options. Since February, residents of Värmdö have been able to order burgers from the Scandinavian chain Bastard Burgers via drone. Currently in a “beta phase,” Aviant is delivering only ten items per week as it tests its system, with plans to expand services later this year. The drone delivery costs are comparable to traditional methods, as eliminating a driver reduces overall costs.
Aviant is also preparing to launch a similar service on the Norwegian peninsula of Nesodden, where around 100,000 people have lacked food delivery access. Fagernæs highlighted the logistical challenges, noting that ensuring food remains hot and fresh during a maximum ten-minute flight has required extensive testing and improvements to their packaging.
The company has identified around 40 potential bases for expansion across Scandinavia, eyeing similarities to regions in Canada and the Northeast U.S. As for operational constraints, high winds may occasionally ground the drones, but Fagernæs anticipates a 90% uptime.
While carrying out food deliveries to remote areas has proven challenging and not commercially viable for many, companies in various countries continue to explore drone logistics for rural markets. For instance, Skyports has partnered with Royal Mail to deliver services in the Orkneys, looking towards future opportunities to expand delivery to all residents.
As the drone delivery industry evolves, operational safety remains a primary concern, necessitating close collaboration with aviation authorities to manage airspace effectively and minimize risks.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlze41zygdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss