Advertisement
Australia markets closed
  • ALL ORDS

    8,153.70
    +80.10 (+0.99%)
     
  • ASX 200

    7,896.90
    +77.30 (+0.99%)
     
  • AUD/USD

    0.6516
    -0.0020 (-0.30%)
     
  • OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • Bitcoin AUD

    108,884.49
    +2,659.48 (+2.50%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • AUD/EUR

    0.6035
    +0.0004 (+0.07%)
     
  • AUD/NZD

    1.0903
    +0.0023 (+0.21%)
     
  • NZX 50

    12,105.29
    +94.63 (+0.79%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    18,254.69
    -26.15 (-0.14%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • Dow Jones

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • Hang Seng

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     

On Donner, on Blitzen, on... pepperoni? Domino's Japan wants to deliver pizza via reindeer

Domino’s plans to use reindeer to deliver pizza in Japan
Yes, these might actually be a thing. (Domino’s Japan)

First drones. Next … reindeer?

Now that its trial of delivery drones in New Zealand has begun, Domino’s Pizza is reportedly in talks to begin offering another means of getting food to its customers’ doors, but this time it’s a little more festive and a lot less practical.

The U.S.-based restaurant franchise is exploring the possibility of enlisting some of Santa’s helpers to deliver pizza in Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands.

According to Quartz, Domino’s Pizza Japan said it in talks with reindeer breeders to offer a special “snow delivery,” as the nation is expected to experience a “particularly cold” winter, with severe snowfalls.

ADVERTISEMENT

And it may have already begun. On Thursday, Tokyo received its first snowfall in November in 54 years.

The offering would help ensure that residents of Hokkaido could still get their pizza if roads are blocked because of heavy snow, which wouldn’t faze the cold-resistant animals who could continue to prance through the streets, according to Domino’s action plan.

The fast-food chain appears to be taking the publicity stunt seriously, as it is working with a research centre on the island towards a “full-scale introduction” of the reindeer-delivery program next month.

Domino’s said it is working to ensure the safety and health of the animals by co-ordinating with experts to figure out the load that the reindeer will be expected to carry and the length of their trips.

Renderings show thermal pizza containers strapped to a reindeer’s back, but there’s no telling if the company will also enlist an experienced sleigh driver to help make sure deliveries are made on time.