Revolution in purchasing: New 24-hour Rewe box inspires Lichtenberg!

Revolution in purchasing: New 24-hour Rewe box inspires Lichtenberg!

The first Rewe shopping box in the Bautzen district was recently opened in Lichtenberg near Pulsnitz. This 24-hour self-service facility allows customers to shop around the clock without relying on staff. The box is operated by Rewe Petz from Pulsnitz, and the initial reactions to this innovative concept are consistently positive. The shopping box has an area of ​​40 square meters and offers more than 700 items. To make purchases, customers need a debit or credit card. The purchase is carried out by self-scanning the products, and after the payment is completed, the door of the box opens.

A maximum of five people can shop in the shopping box at the same time. This new offer is particularly well received, especially since there was an Edeka store in Lichtenberg until recently. The rush in the first few days shows that the concept has successfully gained a foothold. There is also already interest in similar solutions in surrounding villages that currently do not have a food supply. In this context, the possibility of another 24-hour local shopping box in the old town is being discussed in the city of Kamenz, which indicates a growing need for flexible shopping options.

Background to the REWE Group

The Rewe Group, a leading retail and tourism cooperation company based in Cologne, plays a central role in the German food supply. Founded in 1927, REWE is now considered the second largest supermarket chain in Germany, behind EDEKA. In 2022, the company achieved sales of 84.4 billion euros and employed over 363,000 people (as of 2019). The company structure includes a variety of different formats, including supermarkets, discount stores and hardware stores, as well as convenience stores and hypermarkets. The REWE Group's main brands include REWE, Penny, Billa and Toom.

Technological trends in retail

In the context of modern retail, more and more intelligent shopping solutions are emerging. According to a white paper from DHBW Heilbronn, there are already over 600 smart stores in Germany that use different technologies to adapt to location, product range and customer needs. The variants include self-checkout stores, grab & go stores and vending shops, which offer customers a convenient and efficient shopping experience. The innovative solutions not only offer greater flexibility, but also ease of use through technologies such as RFID and self-scanning, which meet the needs of the modern consumer.

In summary, the example of the Rewe shopping box shows that the retail landscape in Germany is changing dynamically and is increasingly adapting to the needs of consumers. With innovative concepts and technological advances, retail in rural areas could receive new impetus and continue to improve the quality of life locally.

For more information about Rewe Group and its retail trends, please visit REWE Group.

For details about developments in the area of ​​smart stores, click on My Smartstore.

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