U.S‑based Drone delivery company, Zipline, is regularly adding new clients to its American operations, where it is bringing a “game-changing” delivery technology in 2024, reports a press release. The latest outlets are wellness retailer GNC, pharmaceutical logistics firm Associated Couriers, and Seattle-based eatery Pagliacci Pizza.
While, GNC is beginning delivering orders via drone within 20 minutes to customers in the Salt Lake City area using Zipline’s current Platform 1 system, following months of tests, the wellness retailer plans to expand its drone service to other U.S. markets next year using Zipline’s updated and game-changing Platform 2.
This also applies to Associated Couriers who aims to utilise a Platform 2 service to bring prescription drugs to residents of Long Island, while Pagliacci is to fly its products to Seattle residents. The present Platform 1 system is currently being used by Sweetgreen, Michigan Medicine, MultiCare Health Systems, Intermountain Health and the Government of Rwanda.
Zipline’s ultra-quiet Platform 2 drones (designed to sound like rustling leaves) can drop a delivery on an 18”x18” target, whether a porch, yard or sidewalk, as it hovers up to 400 feet over the target, while a droid slides down a tether to deliver the package. The drone is able to travel up to 24 miles from hub to destination.

Alan Chester
Alan Chester, GNC’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, commented, “We are focused on building, testing, and fortifying innovation solutions that enable our business to support our consumers on their path to achieve their goals. This partnership with Zipline will enable GNC to quickly and efficiently deliver our products to help our clients stick to wellness routines and live well.”
Meanwhile, Pagliacci Pizza’s collaboration attracted local media attention last week. Seattle media outlet, Kiro7 offers a video on its website about the partnership, while news radio station KUOW, a podcast.
Kiro 7 Video (Top left corner)
Keller Renaudo Cliffton, co-Founder and CEO of Zipline, told KUOW, “Obviously, it seems pretty sci-fi and a lot of customers think this is totally insane when they first hear about it. But what has really struck us is that there are about seven days of sci-fi magical amazement, and then on day eight people are basically bored of it — bored of it in the way that there’s no way they’re ever going back to the old way of receiving things.
He continued, “Anybody can pull out a phone, press a button and place an order that can then be delivered autonomously to the home in a way that is 10 times as fast, half the cost, and fully zero emission compared to the way we do instant delivery today.”

Matt Galvin
Meanwhile, Pagliacci Pizza’s co-owner, Matt Galvin, was reported as saying, “Platform 2 will enable us to scale our deliveries sustainably with up to 97 percent fewer emissions than cars, and where the pizzas will remain hot. This is a massive opportunity for us to expand upon sustainable delivery,”
He continued, “We know our customers want delivery, we know they want it to be fast. It’s not going to be sitting in a car for seven or eight minutes, it’s going to be in a drone for as little as two minutes.”
Drone deliveries will make it possible to transport these products within a 10-mile radius, including difficult-to-reach locations. The drones can carry up to two 13-inch pizzas, some sides and drinks. Pagliacci said that since there’s no driver, tips offered during drone delivery will go to the kitchen staff.
Zipline’s new technology has been well covered by evtolinsights.com. Please read the stories below.
As ever these exciting endeavours for 2024 is contingent on gaining FAA approval for an operations and safety plan. That plan is in the works but not yet submitted to the agency. The FAA may impose, for example, restrictions tailored to Seattle’s busy airspace such as on flight altitudes, hours of operation and places to avoid.
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