Sponsored By

Rouses Markets to pilot drone delivery of groceries

Partner Deuce Drone to turn Alabama test store into customer fulfillment center

Russell Redman

July 7, 2020

2 Min Read
Rouses Markets storefront.jpg
“Drone delivery offers the fastest, safest delivery store to door,” stated Rouses Markets CEO Donny Rouse.Rouses Markets

This fall, regional supermarket chain Rouses Markets plans to test an unmanned grocery delivery service using airborne drones.

Rouses has partnered with Boston-based Deuce Drone to conduct the pilot with Deuce’s Aerial Drone Delivery Interface System (ADDIS) at the Southern grocer’s store on Airport Boulevard in Mobile, Ala.

Deuce Drone-aerial drone with package.pngDeuce Drone's system is aimed at solving cost and speed issues in last-mile delivery of online orders. (Image courtesy of Deuce Drone)

In announcing the test on Tuesday, Deuce Drone said its technology provides a last-mile delivery solution for brick-and-mortar retailers by enabling drone shipment directly from stores. Deuce Drone leverages a retailer’s current infrastructure in designing, building and operating the drone delivery system, turning stores offering the service into customer fulfillment centers, according to the company, which added that its cost-effective solution allows retailers to compete with larger e-commerce players on same-day delivery.

Thibodaux, La.-based Rouses already offers online grocery delivery service through Instacart and Shipt, which enable customers to receive their orders at home in as soon as an hour. But according to CEO Donny Rouse, the retailer seeks more convenient and innovative ways to deliver groceries.

Related:Uber rolls into online grocery delivery arena

“Drone delivery offers the fastest, safest delivery store to door,” Rouse said in a statement. “We should be able to get groceries to customers in 30 minutes, or even less. Plus it’s more cost-efficient, meaning we can save customers time and money.”

To compete with Amazon, brick-and-mortar retailers need high-speed fulfillment for online orders, Deuce Drone said on its website. However, the last mile of delivery to the consumer’s doorstep represents more than half of total delivery cost, while traffic and multiple stops slow the delivery of packages, the company noted.

“We’re excited to partner with Rouses Markets and work together to alter the landscape of home delivery,” stated Rhett Ross, CEO of Deuce Drone. 

Overall, Rouses Markets operates 64 supermarkets in three Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like