Deliveroo is trialling drone food deliveries in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin.

The initiative, which marks the first time the company has offered drone deliveries to its customers, is being trialled in partnership with Manna, one of the largest drone delivery operators in Europe.

The firm delivers everything from medicine and food to books and says it has completed 165,000 deliveries so far.

The trial aims to test the practicality of using drones to serve customers in remote and hard-to-reach areas, complementing Deliveroo's existing network of bike and scooter couriers.

Customers within a three-kilometre radius will be able to order from popular restaurants such as Musashi, Wowburgers, Boojum and Elephant & Castle, with Manna promising drone delivery times of just three minutes.

Carlo Mocci, chief business officer of Deliveroo, emphasised how the partnership reinforces the company's mission to bring customers' favourite dishes to the homes of as many people as possible.

"We're excited to explore how drones can help us reach new customers, complementing our existing rider model and, if successful, the prospect of expanding drone deliveries across Ireland and into other markets."

Eligible customers within the correct radius will need to verify their address via the app to confirm a suitable location for delivery, which usually takes place in a customer's driveway or front or back garden.

After the customer has placed their order, they will receive an alert message to remind them to collect the order when the drone is nearby.

Manna, which has already completed more than 170,000 drone deliveries in the Dublin area since it started operations in 2024, operates drones that fly at speeds of up to 80 km/h.

The firm claims on its website that the aerial approach avoids traffic and reduces wait times.

The partnership is the latest in a series of drone collaborations for Manna, with the firm signing a similar collaboration with Just Eat in Dublin in March this year.

Manna also recently announced the expansion of its operations in Cork.

The trial comes shortly after Deliveroo agreed to be acquired by US rival DoorDash in a deal valuing the UK-based food delivery company at £2.9 billion.

The deal will create a combined entity with operations in more than 40 countries, serving approximately 50 million monthly active users and generating a total order value of approximately $90 billion in 2024.

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