Pic Courtesy: BBC
Hot food delivery, a service city dwellers take for granted, is now reaching Scandinavia’s island communities — thanks to Norwegian start-up Aviant.
The company has launched the region’s first drone-based food delivery service on Värmdö, an island just 13 km from Stockholm. Home to around 46,000 residents — swelling to nearly 100,000 in summer — the island has long lacked reliable food delivery options.
Since February, locals in Gustavsberg and nearby areas have been able to order freshly made burgers from Bastard Burgers, dropped at their doorsteps by drone. Delivery costs are comparable to car or bike services, but without driver expenses.
“There are 87,000 people near Stockholm who don’t have access to food delivery,” says Aviant co-founder and CEO Lars Erik Fagernæs. “They live in suburban areas where demand exists, but services don’t reach.”
From Trials to Takeoff
Developing the service wasn’t easy. Drones can fly up to 10 minutes across a six-mile radius, but keeping food hot was a challenge.
“At first, we had soggy fries,” Fagernæs admits. “But with improved insulated containers, food now arrives warm — even in winter.”
Residents have welcomed the innovation enthusiastically. “People think it’s like a UFO delivering their food,” he laughs.
Next Stop: Norway
Aviant is also preparing to launch in Nesodden, near Oslo. Though only four miles away by air, the road journey stretches to 29 miles — making drone delivery a game changer for its 100,000 residents.
Looking ahead, Aviant has identified 40 potential drone bases across Scandinavia and sees expansion opportunities in Canada and the northeastern US, where similar geographies exist.
Weather remains a hurdle — high winds can ground drones — but the company expects 90% uptime. Currently in beta, deliveries are capped at 10 items per week, with plans to scale up by 2026.
Aviant’s vision is clear: bridging the gap between urban convenience and rural reality — one hot meal at a time.