The world’s largest retailer is actively pursuing drone delivery, exploring residential delivery applications all over the country. This week, beverage giant Coca-Cola is teaming up with drone services provider DroneUp and Walmart to launch the new Coca-Cola with Coffee – delivering samples to residents of Coffee County, GA.
Coca-Cola with Coffee is just what it sounds like – Coca-Cola infused with Brazilian coffee, for those times when you just can’t choose between your two favorite drinks. Apparently it’s a winner: more than 80% of the people who try it say they’ll buy it. The drink was first introduced in Japan in 2018, and now – with the formula tweaked to meet local tastes – it’s come to the U.S. “Coca-Cola with Coffee is available nationwide in three signature flavors – Dark Blend, Vanilla and Caramel – and its zero-sugar counterpart comes in Dark Blend and Vanilla. All varieties are shelf-stable and contain 69 mg of caffeine per 12-oz. can,” says the Coca-Cola company.
Coca-Cola with Coffee is a new concept for the U.S.: and it’s being launched with another new concept, drone delivery. “Coca-Cola is teaming up with Walmart and DroneUp, a nationwide drone services provider, to bring Coca-Cola with Coffee and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar to the “buzzworthy” community of Coffee County, Ga.,” says the Coca-Cola announcement. “On Jan. 25, select consumers who live in a single-family residence within a one-mile radius of the Walmart Supercenter in Coffee County can opt-in to have Coca-Cola with Coffee and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar delivered safely via drone delivery.”
DroneUp received an FAA waiver for flight over people and moving vehicles last month that makes drone delivery in populated areas more feasible: the Coca-Cola with Coffee deliveries will be operated within visual line of sight. This latest project follows DroneUp’s drone delivery of COVID test kits to residents in Las Vegas, NV. This collaboration between Coca-Cola, DroneUp and Walmart brings drone delivery to more mainstream consumers, helping to bring the application to the attention of communities across the country.
And as for the new beverage, Coca-Cola with Coffee? Tom Walker, DroneUp CEO got to try it. “It’s buzz-worthy!” he reports.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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[…] In the race to establish retail drone delivery – and to help frame what safe, consistent and fast drone delivery services look like – Walmart has taken a few big steps. Last week, global drone delivery company Zipline announced a trial at Walmart’s Pea Ridge, AR location. Read more about Walmart’s delivery trials, investment in DroneUp, and project with Coca-Cola. […]