Walgreens completes first on-demand drone delivery

Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens has taken off with the first official pilot of on-demand drone delivery in Virginia.

As of Oct. 18, the drugstore giant is live with a trial of “store to door” delivery of health and wellness, food and beverage and convenience items via drone delivery in Christianburg, Va. (Prescription deliveries are not available in the pilot.) The first drone-based delivery from Walgreens went to local residents Michael and Kelly Collver, who received a cough and cold pack that included cough drops, tissues, a powdered drink mix vitamin supplement and bottled water.

Walgreens conducted the pilot with Wing Aviation, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet. Launch of the pilot makes Walgreens the first retailer to offer on-demand drone delivery service in the U.S. The companies are running the test in conjunction with FedEx.

“Today is a great day for the future of consumer convenience,” said Vish Sankaran, chief innovation officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance. “This industry-first drone delivery pilot with Wing expands our omnichannel offerings to provide customers the products they need wherever, whenever and however they may want them.”