Manna Announces National and International Expansion Plans for Drone Delivery Service
Manna, the world’s first aviation-grade B2B drone delivery ‘as-a-service’ platform, has officially announced its plans for the remainder of 2022 and 2023.
These include the launch of a new delivery site in a large Dublin suburb, with a population of approximately 100,000, expansion into the USA market in 2022 and the European market in 2023, and the development of a new manufacturing site.
Manna, founded by Bobby Healy and headquartered at NovaUCD, currently employs over 100 staff and earlier this year announced plans to hire a team of up to 50 locally to meet the demand for the service.
Manna’s mission is to improve the world by making lightning-fast suburban deliveries affordable, green and safe. Flying autonomously, one Manna aircraft can do 100 deliveries a day and one Manna employee will be able to remotely oversee up to 20 aircraft at the same time. Manna recently expanded to the Dublin suburb Balbriggan, where the population of 35,000 can be served with just 4 aircraft.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said, “Manna is a great example of an indigenous Irish company at the cutting-edge of a high-potential growth industry. This year Manna has created 50 new jobs in Balbriggan, and I know they have ambitious expansion plans for the future.”
Bobby Healy, CEO and founder, Manna, said, "Rolling out Manna’s service domestically and internationally has always been part of our strategy, we are delighted that this is going to be achieved. Expanding into the USA and across Europe in 2022/2023, while also providing another large Dublin suburb with drone delivery and the addition of another manufacturing site shows our rapid growth plans and dedication to our mission.”
Manna works with over 30 vendors, including Blasta Street Kitchen, Bó Bainne, Applegreen, Tesco, Healthwave, Quick Ink, Cuddles Pet Store and more.
To date Manna has raised over €30 million from highly respected investors such as Molten Ventures, Team Europe, Partners of DST Global, Founders Fund, Dynamo Ventures, Atlantic Bridge, and Elkstone.
ENDS
11 August 2022
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, NovaUCD, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie
Editors Notes
Manna is the world’s first aviation-grade B2B drone delivery ‘as-a-service’ company. The Manna drone fleet is operated by Manna directly from the restaurant or dark kitchen premises and is accessible via API to food tech providers and online food platforms alike in a channel-agnostic manner. One fleet for all demand.
Currently delivering to over 45k people, Manna’s mission is to improve the world by making lightning-fast suburban deliveries affordable, green and safe. Flying autonomously, one Manna aircraft can do 100 deliveries.
Manna is licensed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) with a ‘light UAS operator certificate’ (LUC). Manna received the first (LUC) for commercial drone delivery issued by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) & European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), opening up Europe-wide opportunities for the company.
Manna also worked with the Irish Government and national health service (HSE) on a pilot test programme in Moneygall, Co. Offaly delivering medication to those who needed it to demonstrate the applications of drone delivery. Manna fly custom-developed aerospace grade drones to deliver products directly to customer's homes with an average flight time of just three minutes. The drones fly at an altitude of 50-80 metres and at a speed of over 60kph. www.manna.aero