Irish-developed drone delivery service completed more than 300,000 deliveries and partnered with over 120 Irish businesses, but says the lack of a clear national framework has left the sector reliant on local planning processes and created uncertainty around the infrastructure required to support drone delivery at scale.
Manna is ceasing its delivery operations in Ireland to concentrate its growth on the United States, UK and other international markets where regulatory, and planning frameworks are advancing and commercial drone delivery is accelerating, according to a company statement.
“The absence of a clear national policy framework for commercial drone delivery means there is currently no defined pathway for the sector to scale in Ireland,” continued the statement. “In the absence of such a framework, decisions are assessed locally, creating uncertainty around the planning and infrastructure requirements needed to support commercial drone delivery at scale. At the same time, the United States, United Kingdom, China and the UAE are demonstrating rapid regulatory progress and strong commercial momentum. As a result, Manna has decided to concentrate its investment, talent and operational resources in markets where large-scale drone delivery is now a reality. Manna has already received operational authorisation in both the USA and UK, and anticipates full authorisation to operate in the UAE this year.”
The decision also means that planned expansion and future employment growth at local operational delivery hubs in Ireland will not proceed at this time, said the company. This decision does not affect Manna’s continued investment in Ireland, which will remain the company’s primary base for research and development, engineering, robotics, regulatory affairs, customer operations and corporate functions.
Manna has launched services in Moneygall, Oranmore, Balbriggan, Blanchardstown and Cork as well as expanding internationally to Helsinki, Finland and Texas. Over that period, the company completed more than 300,000 deliveries and partnered with over 120 businesses providing communities with rapid access to groceries, meals, pharmacy products, household essentials and other everyday goods. Manna currently employs nearly 200 people across engineering, technology, operations and corporate functions almost entirely in Ireland
“In Manna’s most mature market, Blanchardstown, where the company has operated since February 2024, almost 90,000 deliveries have been completed. Manna believes this success demonstrates both strong community demand and the opportunity for Ireland to address the policy, planning and infrastructure gaps that can slow the deployment of new technologies, even where consumer adoption and commercial demand are already well established,” said the company.
Manna stressed that this decision represents a strategic pause rather than a permanent withdrawal of delivery operations from Ireland. Should an appropriate national policy framework be established, Manna would welcome the opportunity to resume delivery operations in Ireland. The company also said it remains ready to work with the Irish Government, the Irish Aviation Authority and other local bodies to help shape the National Drone Framework.
“This is a difficult decision because Ireland is where Manna was founded, built and first proven,” said Bobby Healy Founder and CEO of Manna. “We are incredibly grateful to the communities, businesses, customers and employees who helped show that drone delivery can work at scale. However, in the absence of a clear national pathway to scale commercial drone delivery, we have to focus our investment in markets where that pathway is now clear.”
Customers in affected areas will be notified directly through the Manna app and by email. Manna will work with local business partners to complete the cessation of Irish delivery operations in an orderly manner.