Overview

• Rising costs are threatening the viability of village stores, which are often the only shopping and social gathering spots in rural areas.
• The hybrid model combines staffed morning hours with automated, self-service options in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
• Four stores in Rheinland-Pfalz, including Höringen, are part of the pilot program, with funding of €190,000 provided by the state government.
• The initiative seeks to maintain personal interaction while improving accessibility through digital solutions like self-checkout and automated door access.
• Preliminary results from the project, which could benefit other stores in the region, are expected by the second quarter of 2025.