Unmanned 24/7 Grocery Stores in the Countryside: A Game Changer for Rural Life
Local convenience stores, aptly named Village Mini-Markets: A guide to their offerings and operations. - Tiny Local Convenience Stores in the Rural Community - Essential Information You Need
Wanna dart off to the corner store for milk, eggs, and flour real quick? City folks don't bat an eyelash, but driving far to get to a supermarket in the sticks can be a buzzkill. That's where these high-tech, automated mini-markets come in, providing a convenient shop strategy for rural living.
What's the deal with these bad boys?
Say hi to your new go-to market—a small store that runs without staff most of the time. There's a crew to stock the shelves and help customers for a few hours weekly, but you'll be scanning and paying youritems yourself the rest of the time.
Where can I find these shops?
Got a hankering for some Tante M mini-markets? Keep an eye out in southern Germany—they've teamed up with independent franchisees to operate around 60 stores, mostly in Baden-Württemberg. You can't miss Teo-Mini markets in the northern part, which belong to the Hessian trading company Tegut.
When can I shop?
Tante M stores groove to your schedule, open seven days a week from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. According to business manager Carsten Pletz, this meets the bulk of customers' needs. Nighttime closures for security purposes mean 24/7 shopping isn't required in the countryside, but Teo-Markets actually stay open round the clock.
Got legal questions?
"The Retail Trade Act stipulates that stores can't operate on Sundays," says trade expert Stephan Rüschen, a food retailing professor at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. "But municipalities permit them, forming a sort of loophole." The Greens believe there's a need for change, arguing for Sunday openings in the Retail Trade Act.
Hesse already did this last year, allowing stores under 120 square meters to sell essentials on Sundays. But which states allow these stores to operate on their own is still a movable feast.
How's business?
According to Rüschen, customers adore these mini-markets and find them invaluable. Add to that their emotional attachment, and you've got a recipe for a successful business. Tante M's own feedback indicates overwhelmingly positive responses, with brass bands and mayors on hand at openings.
Got politics on the brain?
Politicians are well aware of these stores' potential. State parliament leader of the Greens, Andreas Schwarz, sees the importance of having local grocery options that negate a need for long car drives, boosting rural area attractiveness. Missing bakeries, butchers, and other village shops are often a sore point in rural areas, according to Schwarz, but these mini-supermarkets have the power to improve village life.
Costs me an arm and a leg?
Not really, according to Rüschen. Despite customers typically paying about 10% more at mini-supermarkets compared to regular stores, surveys show almost 90% accept the price level.
Theft worries?
"Deny it if you wanna, but theft's an issue," says Carsten Pletz of Tante M. Yet, stores being isolated tend to foster a strong sense of community, as shoppers want the store to stick around. Additional security precautions like surveillance systems and access controls also help deter thieves. Customers typically need to scan a customer or bank card upon entry to enter the store.
Key terms: Retail * Milk * Car * Baden-Württemberg * Supermarket * Heilbronn * Stuttgart*
Enrichment Data:
Unmanned, 24/7 mini-supermarkets, called 'smart stores,' are spreading like wildfire across Germany, reaching approximately 600 stores nationwide[1]. These automated stores rely on pre-registration or access cards, servicing customers day and night without need for staff[1]. With roughly 270 stores in rural areas, these stores are particularly useful for remote shoppers [1][4]. Beyond rural locations, these automated stores are cropping up in urban settings, workplaces, and public spaces [1][4].
In southwest Germany, although specific rural statistics are not detailed, the overall trend suggests accelerated growth in automated retail formats nationwide. Companies like Lekkerland, a REWE Group subsidiary, are aggressively rolling out 24/7 smart kiosks in diverse settings, such as public areas, clinics, and workplaces [4][5]. The technology underpinning these mini-markets, featuring digital price tags, cloud-based stock and pricing, and remote management, makes them agile and adaptable to various locations [4][5].
[1] https://www.handelsblatt.com/ustop/digital-handel/kaufen-und-verkaufen-im-24-stunden-laden/26851148.html
[4] https://www.handelsblatt.com/ustop/retail-online/amz-verschweigt-die-wirklichkeit-der-amazon-go-laden/26990208.html
[5] https://www.wiwo.de/digital/studie-unmanned-supermarkets-smart-shops-in-deutschland/26976682.html
- The employment policy for these automated 24/7 mini-markets, commonly referred to as 'smart stores,' primarily requires staff for a few hours weekly to stock shelves and help customers, with the majority of the time operated without human intervention.
- These technology-driven stores, found in various industries such as retail, finance, and lifestyle, can be found in different regions including Baden-Württemberg and the northern part, operated by companies like Tegut and Tante M.
- The community policy in the rural areas around these smart stores has shown a strong sense of support and responsibility, with customers valuing the convenience they provide and wanting the stores to remain open.
- According to the industry data, the employment policy within the retail sector has seen a shift towards automation and remote management, with digital price tags, cloud-based stock and pricing, and surveillance systems becoming common features in these stores.
