wilko invests £3m in autonomous deliveries venture StreetDrone
wilko, a British high street chain which sells homewares and household goods, has announced a £3 million investment in UK autonomous delivery company, StreetDrone.
The investment, which is part of a wider multi-million-pound pre-Series A round, will enable StreetDrone to accelerate the development of its delivery vehicle and systems.
The plan is to bring autonomous deliveries to Wilko consumers by the end of 2023.
Jerome Saint-Marc, CEO at wilko, says: “Autonomous vehicles are the future of automated logistics, and StreetDrone is undoubtedly one of the key players that will lead the way in making this technology viable.”
“It has gone from strength to strength over the last four years and is one of the companies that’s putting the UK on the map in developing this type of game-changing technology.”
He adds: “One of the key reasons why we’re backing the team at StreetDrone is that this sort of transformative technology can have a huge and positive impact for hard working families – and it’s this ethos that runs through all of our work at wilko.”
“Ultimately, it has the potential to reduce costs for customers when deployed in the retail sector. We look forward to supporting them on this journey.”
Mike Potts, Founder and CEO, StreetDrone, comments: “We are delighted to have the support of a major UK retailer. wilko will help us realise our aim of bringing autonomous last mile services to UK and European roads, to the benefit of both retailers and consumers.”
“Our technology, aligned with wilko’s determined strategy to enrich the lives of its customers, is the perfect fusion of our capability and their requirement.”
Jonathan Griffin, Director at WilkinsonFuture, who is joining StreetDrone’s board, adds: “We were very excited when we met StreetDrone and would have happily added them directly to our portfolio of young businesses.”
“However, it is even better that wilko shared that view and I look forward to supporting them and seeing both businesses, one new and one over 90 years young, flourishing together.”
