Kroger announced last month that it launched a pilot program to deliver online grocery orders by autonomous drones. Through a partnership with Drone Express, Kroger says it can deliver products not just to a street address, but also on the spot, such as bringing picnic supplies to a park or sunscreen to the beach.
Test flights were scheduled to begin in May near a Kroger Marketplace supermarket in Centerville, OH, where licensed drone pilots would manage the flights from an on-site trailer with the help of additional off-site monitoring.
Kroger says deliveries can be made in as little as 15 minutes from the time the item is ordered.
A spokesperson for the company explained that it’s designing bundled product offerings based on customer needs that are within the approximately five-pound weight limit for drone delivery. For example, bundles may include a baby care package with wipes and formula, a child wellness package with over-the-counter medications and fluids, and a S’mores package with graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate.
