Manna receives investment from Coca-Cola, eyes US expansion
Manna Drone Delivery has announced investment from Coca-Cola HBC as its eyes US expansion of its drone delivery service.
Coca-Cola HBC is the strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company. Through its ventures arm it collaborates with start-ups in the areas of last mile, vending, coffee technology and sustainability. Zoran Bogdanovic, CEO, Coca-Cola HBC, said: “Our investment in Manna Drone Delivery, one of the most innovative drone delivery start-up companies in the world, encapsulates our ambition to deliver our products in new and more sustainable ways.”
With up to eight times less CO2 compared to car delivery, the partnership with Manna Drones is “another step in our journey to achieve net zero emissions across our value chain by 2040”, added Bogdanovic.
The 10,000 residents in the Dallas and Fort Worth area of Texas will be the next to receive goods via drone as Manna has also partnered with real estate development firm Hillwood.
Christopher Ash, senior vice president of aviation business development for Hillwood, said: “We’re excited to work with Manna as a key operator at the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone, where they can scale and commercialise drone delivery in one of the world’s most unique environments. At Hillwood, we are a team collaborating to bring innovative supply chain technologies to North Texas and provide next-level amenities to the communities we reach.”
Bobby Healy, CEO & founder of Manna, said: “Working with Hillwood who develop technology-forward, innovative lifestyle communities and with Coca-Cola HBC who are committed to more sustainable and advanced delivery solutions is testament to the realisation that last mile delivery can be done in a more efficient, safer and greener way.”