An automatic grocery store starts operating in Strakonice. The establishment will operate in a continuous mode. During the day, customers will be served by staff, but at night people will shop on their own. They will be able to enter the store using a special application, through which they will also pay for the purchase. Representatives of the COOP group, which operates an automatic store, told reporters today. According to them, this is the first such store in the country.
“Different concepts of unmanned stores are emerging around the world. In countries like South Korea, for example, these stores are already commonplace. Great development can also be registered in the Scandinavian countries or Western Europe,” said Pavel Kozler, CEO of Knowinstore, which for the technical solution of the concept.
He added that he was looking for inspiration for an automatic store abroad. “We are actively connecting two worlds – development companies and traditional retail networks. In this case, we have implemented our own innovative solution, which is not only efficient but also affordable. Therefore, it is well usable in Czech conditions,” he said.
The Strakonice automatic store, located in the city center, offers a classic food assortment. In night traffic, people will be able to buy, for example, sliced sausages or cheeses prepared in vacuumed packaging. “We also consider our focus on regional food to be important. We sell, for example, bread from local bakeries or cold cuts from local butchers. COOP network Lukáš Němčík.
COOP expects to open a similar automated plant in Český Krumlov in June. “We think that in small and medium-sized cities, the concept of automated stores has the greatest potential due to the changing structure of customers, most of whom require the most flexible services. “On the outskirts, which are often only accessible by car. For fast shopping, an constantly open automatic shop within walking distance is an ideal solution,” said Němčík.
COOP in the Czech Republic brings together 46 consumer cooperatives, which operate a network of approximately 2,500 stores. Last year, COOP cooperative stores increased revenues by seven percent year-on-year to approximately CZK 33 billion.
Source: COOP and CTK
