Mystery shrouding that supermarket along the Baltic coastline
Revised Base Article
In the heart of Ahlbeck, a small Edeka market isn't just your average grocery store—it's a tech-savvy, autonomous wonderland! Owner Jannik Böse isn't your typical grocer; he's a trailblazer, revolutionizing the shopping experience in just five weeks.
Rebuilding Retail in a Weeks' Time
Taking the reins from the previous owner in late 2022, Jannik had EU regulations breathing down his neck. Instead of tinkering around the edges, he went all-in. In a mere five weeks, a complete makeover was born: the store's 360 square meters were transformed from floor to ceiling, featuring new shelves, modern cooling tech, LED lighting, and a reverse vending machine, among other updates.
Jannik also invested in a swanky new cash register system and a whopping 38 AI cameras to run this supermarket of the future.
The Perfect Spot for a Tech Shift
You won't find parking spots along the Ahlbeck shopping street, but that's part of what makes this location unique. Tucked right in the middle of it all, this quaint market sits just a stone's throw away from the beach—the ideal spot for a quick pick-me-up after a dip in the sea! Though major shopping sprees aren't common here, customers usually drop by for a modest spend of around eleven euros.
Autonomous Operations without the Staff
Since March 2023, the market's extended its hours: winter shoppers can get their fix until 8 PM, and those lucky beachgoers can swing by as late as 10 PM in summer (Sundays open from 8 AM to 6 PM). The extra time is covered entirely by automation, saving on staff. A single security guard monitors the store, offering assistance to bewildered customers in need of a hand with weighing fruit, scanning goods, or making a payment.
Staffing a Dream Team of Nine
Jannik Böse is no Scrooge; nine dedicated employees are part of the team, ensuring the market's shelves stay stocked and sales run smoothly until closing time. Though the evenings are pretty much self-managed, regular duties like restocking and sales continue right up until they lock the doors.
As the summer tourist season has yet to start, it's still too early to tell how locals and visitors will react to the new concept. But so far, Jannik's psychological gamble seems to have paid off, with the extended hours resulting in an even higher average receipt.
Sneaking in a Bank Card, Scanning, and Paying
To enter this high-tech market, customers simply swipe their bank card at a pillar, prompting the door to unlock. They can then stroll around, weighing their own fruit and grabbing pre-packaged meat and sausages, which bear conveniently labeled barcodes. Identification is required to purchase beer, wine, and canned mixed drinks, but harder liquors and tobacco products stay securely behind a roller shutter during autonomous hours.
Once customers have their shopping bags full, they head to one of the four self-checkout registers, scanning each item using a handheld device. The screen then reveals their receipt, which they can pay off using their card. Cash? Don't bother—credit and debit have taken over. Jannik Böse is all in for this concept, confident that such innovations lead to assured extended hours and staff flexibility, offering an attractive balance for employees.
In Karlshagen, Jannik Böse's other supermarket, threatening to adopt this autonomous shopping concept isn't on the horizon. The store's size is nearly triple that of Ahlbeck's, and it holds 75 parking spots where shoppers can park and stock up on supplies. It seems the future of convenience shopping is here, but this new-age market is just getting started in Ahlbeck!
- Jannik Böse, the owner of the Edeka market in Ahlbeck, revolutionized the retail industry by transforming his store into a tech-savvy, autonomous operation within five weeks, embracing modern technology like LED lighting, reverse vending machines, AI cash registers, and security cameras.
- The technology-focused Ahlbeck Edeka market, amidst the hustle and bustle of the shopping street and adjacent to the beach, offers a unique shopping experience, showcasing the potential of blending technology and finance in the retail sector.
- Despite the extended hours, autonomous operations, and reduced staffing, Jannik Böse has ensured a strong business model by maintaining a dedicated team of nine employees for daily tasks and stock management, seen as a critical component of commerce within the retail, finance, and technology sectors.
