Behind the scenes of drone food delivery in Finland

The article explores the emerging use of drone food delivery in Finland, focusing on a partnership involving Finnish food delivery platform Huuva (owned by DoorDash), drone operator Manna, and delivery service Wolt. Despite Finland’s challenging weather, including rain and snow, drones have been successfully deployed since a pilot phase in February, now fully operational in Espoo, a suburb of Helsinki. The drones, capable of carrying about 4.4 pounds and operating two at a time, deliver food and groceries faster and more efficiently than traditional methods, avoiding traffic delays and helping maintain food freshness. This innovation aims to expand dining options in suburban areas where variety is limited compared to the capital. Manna’s drones, originally tested in Ireland under harsh weather conditions, are adapted to Finnish climate challenges, though icing remains a hurdle that prompts fallback to conventional delivery methods. The drone delivery system integrates with Wolt Market’s launchpad in Espoo, where delivery workers transfer orders from kitchens to drones under strict safety and regulatory