Kroger Launches a Drone Pilot: Why RE Investors Should Care

Kroger (NYSE: KR) is launching a pilot drone delivery program from a store in Centerville in its home state of Ohio with plans to follow up this summer at one of its Ralphs stores in California, the company said in a May 3 press release. FAA-licensed drone pilots will guide the delivery of up to about five pounds of products in as little as 15 minutes to the location of the smartphone hosting the app that placed the order, the company said. "The possibilities for customers are endless -- we can enable Kroger customers to send chicken soup to a sick friend or get fast delivery of olive oil if they run out while cooking dinner,” said Beth Flippo, chief technology officer for Kroger’s drone-flying partner in the venture, Drone Express from TELEGRID Technologies.