Information About Village Mini-Supermarkets: Their Characteristics and Insights - Village Convenience Stores You Should Be Aware Of
Title: Convenience Shopping in the Countryside - A Closer Look at Automated Mini-Supermarkets
Want to dash to the store for some essentials like flour, dairy, and eggs for your homemade dessert? No sweat in urban areas. But in the countryside, with the nearest supermarket miles away, mini-supermarkets could be your savior.
Functioning without round-the-clock staff, these mini-stores leverage automation to cater to your needs. Though there are staff members for restocking and brief customer service during certain hours each week, subsequently, it's up to you to scan and pay for your purchases.
As for their distribution, Tante M, a retail company, operates approximately 60 of these automated stores primarily in Baden-Württemberg, often in collaboration with independent franchisees. Meanwhile, Teo-mini-markets are another option, run by the Hessian trading company Tegut, predominantly in the northern part of the country.
When can you grab your goods? Tante M stores typically open from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day, making them an accessible choice for customers, as per Tante M's business manager, Carsten Pletz. Given security concerns in rural areas, most stores close at night. Meanwhile, Teo-markets operate 24/7.
As for the legalities, these stores seemingly operate in a 'gray area.' Trade expert Stephan Rüschen, a long-time researcher of mini-supermarkets and professor of food retail at the Dual University of Baden-Württemberg in Heilbronn, explains that while the German Shop Opening Act forbids Sunday trading, municipalities grant these stores permits. The Greens, a political party, refer to this as a 'legal gray area,' advocating for official changes to the Shop Opening Act to allow these stores to operate on Sundays.
Hesse is one such federal state that has already taken this step, enabling stores below 120 sqm to sell daily essentials on Sundays.
The sales seem to fare well. According to Rüschen, many customers find these stores invaluable, easing their daily lives. A strong emotional bond with these stores is also evident. Tante M's business manager, Carsten Pletz, confirms this, stating that they often receive 'overwhelmingly positive feedback.' The opening of these stores is sometimes marked by local celebrations.
**Politics also values these stores. ** According to Andreas Schwarz, faction leader of the Greens in the state parliament, they help villagers obtain daily necessities without long drives, contributing to the allure of rural areas. Over time, these villages have often lacked essential amenities like bakeries, butchers, and convenience stores. Enhancing the quality of life in these communities, he argues.
Is this extra costly for consumers? While no conclusive figures are available, Rüschen estimates that prices in these mini-supermarkets are around 10% higher than regular supermarkets. Yet, it seems that this deterred few, with surveys indicating that nearly 90% of users find the prices acceptable.
Are theft concerns aplenty? Carsten Pletz from Tante M admits that robberies are a concern, yet they are fortunate not to face significant issues since they operate where other options are scarce. Moreover, these stores leverage surveillance systems, access control systems, and customer card scanners at entrances.
Key terms:- Convenience shopping- Automation- Retail- Rural areas- Supplies- Heilbronn- Baden-Württemberg- Deutschland
- The distribution of these automated mini-supermarkets primarily occurs in Baden-Württemberg, with Tante M operating approximately 60 stores and Teo-mini-markets mainly found in the northern part of the country.
- Carsten Pletz, Tante M's business manager, mentioned that some essential supplies, such as flour, dairy, and eggs, are commonly bought at their automated stores.
- In contrast to Teo-markets that remain open 24/7, Tante M stores usually operate from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM each day, with security concerns causing them to close at night in rural areas.
- Though the German Shop Opening Act forbids trading on Sundays, municipalities grant permits to these automated mini-supermarkets, making it a 'gray area' in terms of legalities, asStephan Rüschen, a retail trade expert, suggests.
