Despite the cold weather, delivery technologies are evolving rapidly in Finland. Irish drone company Manna has launched drone-assisted food deliveries in the Espoo region through a partnership with the Wolt platform and the Huuva startup in Helsinki. As a result, customers in the region are experiencing a delivery experience that goes beyond traditional methods, focusing on speed and convenience.
Huuva, which received investment in 2022, aimed to offer residents in the area high-quality and diverse meal options through its “empty kitchen” concept. With this new partnership, restaurants are leveraging the Wolt platform’s high-speed delivery infrastructure, while customers are provided with a faster and more reliable service. Espoo stands out as part of the Helsinki metropolitan area, and drones make it possible to access a wider and richer selection of options in the region. Fresh and fast food is available regardless of the traffic congestion experienced during lunchtime.
Manna’s experience with over 50,000 deliveries in Dublin contributed to the rapid rollout of operations in Finland. After all necessary legal permits were obtained, a pilot program was launched in February, and drone services have been actively operating in Espoo for the past two months. Deliveries are conducted exclusively through a partnership with Wolt Market, and orders from different restaurants are consolidated into a single ecosystem. The drones, which have a carrying capacity of approximately 2 kilograms, increase efficiency by using two drones simultaneously.
Significant advantages are offered in terms of speed, cost, and convenience: Compared to traditional deliveries, the cost of drone delivery can be reduced from 5–6 euros to approximately 1 euro. Additionally, factors such as weather conditions, wind, and rain are tested in advance to ensure safe and stable flights; however, during snowfall, deliveries are handled by local couriers due to icing. This innovation not only adds practicality but also makes a significant difference in delivery time. Thanks to drones that operate independently of traffic congestion, customers have quick access to fresh food, which underscores the premium nature of the service.
When compared to other delivery methods in the current competitive landscape, drones offer a distinct advantage for the first kilometer. While Wolt Finland uses robots such as Dragonfly and Starship, DoorDash in the U.S. continues to operate with its own robot technology, Dot. Partnerships and technological advancements are laying a solid foundation for the widespread adoption of drone deliveries. Huuva plans to expand its drone services to areas where Wolt Market is not yet available. Takeoff points located near the kitchen facilitate the quick transfer of orders to drones.
Currently, the drone launch ramp is positioned very close to the kitchen. Delivery agents pick up orders from the kitchen, place them in insulated bags, and transport them to Manna’s control center, where weight measurements ensure safe and organized packaging. A redundant battery system ensures that flights always operate at full capacity, while safety measures against accident scenarios—such as parachutes—enable missions to be completed safely.
The control center in Ireland uses LiDAR technology to plan the flight route and determine the drone’s location and package drop-off points during the flight. If weather conditions are unfavorable, the order is automatically transferred to a courier; once approved, the drone delivers the package using biodegradable strings. Currently, the teams are handling double-digit deliveries per day and continue to expand their operations in Finland, even under initial winter conditions.
