MTK-News
by Adolf Albus
(October 2nd, 2024) Since March of this year, two so-called “walk-in stores” have been available to the residents of Langenhain and Wild Saxony: since then, merchant Paolo Pennella has been making local supplies available in the rural districts of Hofheim with his nahkauf boxes.
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Mayor Christian Vogt (left), together with economic development officer Thorsten Kolar (right) handing over the notice to nahkauf box operator Paolo Pennella at the Langenhain location
Photo: City of Hofheim
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The two test stores are the result of the concept idea of REWE Markt GmbH, which is testing a new format for food supply in rural areas with mini markets. Now a change in the Hessian Shop Opening Act also legitimizes Sunday sales in the fully automated sales facility.
Digital micro-supermarkets with a sales area of up to 120 square meters that are operated without sales staff – this also includes the aforementioned Nahkauf boxes – are now allowed by state law to open daily from midnight to midnight and sell food and everyday items. There are only exceptions on Christian holidays.
“The Hessian state parliament has unanimously passed the change in the Hessian shop opening law. This is a good signal for the infrastructural strengthening of rural areas and, above all, for its residents. I am very pleased that we can operate two of the first test stores in Germany in Hofheim.”
Reason for joy for the citizens of Langenhain and Wild Saxony – here “Paolo’s Nahkauf boxes” ensure local supplies in both Hofheim districts. Customers can choose from a wide range every day – around the clock: The range of around 800 items ranges from fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and frozen products to a dry range and non-alcoholic drinks to drugstore items. Even flowers are kept for a spontaneous Sunday visit. A particular focus is on REWE own brands, organic products and regional and local suppliers. Access and payment are very easy via debit or credit card.
“I would like to thank Mayor Christian Vogt and the district town of Hofheim for supporting us. The change to the Hessian Shop Opening Act creates legal certainty and enables innovative sales concepts like the nahkauf Box to work in rural areas in the long term,” says Paolo Pennella.
Around 8,000 underserved towns across Germany
Germany’s first Nahkauf box opened in the Upper Franconian municipality of Pettstadt in spring 2022. There has been a box in the Ahr Valley since the beginning of 2023. Further test stores followed in districts of Moritzburg (Saxony), Bad Langensalza (Thuringia), Zeitz (Saxony-Anhalt) and Haunsheim (Bavarian Swabia).
Local supplies in Langenhain
For over 30 years there was a food market in the center of Langenhain that ensured local supplies. In 2013, after several changes of operator, it was abandoned for economic reasons. Since then, the district town’s economic development agency had tried in vain to find a new operator or to set up a food location at the entrance to the town.
Local supplies in Wild Saxony
The last grocery store in Wildsachen closed at the end of the 1990s. It was only in 2007 that the district town, in cooperation with the social agency “Self-Help in the Taunus”, managed to launch a project in which a small village shop could be established in the former town hall. This remained in place until 2011. Due to a lack of successor, the premises subsequently became a library.
