It began with a container transformed into a grocery store in FLC Village, where tunnel workers could enter on their own, pick up what they needed, and pay for the goods—all without any staff intervention. The idea seemed obvious, but customers weren’t exactly lining up.
When FemernReport first wrote about the store back in November 2022, the daily turnover was around 1,000 kroner, making it hard to sustain a profitable business. However, about half a year later, the customers and the store had found each other, and by the summer of 2023, turnover had quintupled.
The “mother store” embraces the idea
The growth in Rødbyhavn motivated Let-Køb in Kramnitze, who manages the store, so much so that the “mother store” in the vacation area of Southern Lolland extended its hours to 24/7, even out of season—without staffing, and it was a good idea:
– We’ve been running self-service since July 2023, and it’s fantastic. The customers are using it. It means we can increase turnover with fewer staff, says Kramnitze grocer, Janne Hansen.
Turnover between 500 and 8,000 kroner
According to Janne Hansen, turnover during unmanned periods varies between 500 and up to 8,000 kroner, and it’s a really good business, as rent and other fixed costs are due regardless of the normal store hours.
The grocer’s container in FLC-Village, which started the entire adventure, has also picked up speed. And although there is actually public access to the store after the main gate to the Femern construction site and tunnel factory was moved, it’s the tunnel workers who account for the turnover:
– The store isn’t just for the workers. Everyone is welcome if they need a liter of UHT milk. But it’s under one percent of the customers who come from outside, says Janne Hansen.
45 unmanned stores in Denmark
The company Unlimit Retail from Køge is behind the unmanned store concept and supplies the technology. The company has been involved in setting up 45 unmanned stores in Denmark over the last two and a half years. According to the director, a place like FLC Village is perfect for the concept:
– They have a massive turnover at Femern. There are no other stores nearby. If you need something, you have to drive, and then an unmanned local store can make a difference, says director Mads Laursen from Unlimit Retail.
It didn’t work in Nakskov
The concept was also tried in a kiosk in the middle of the square in Nakskov. However, that store closed a month ago after half a year due to low turnover:
– In the square in Nakskov, you are surrounded by stores, and then an unmanned store isn’t obvious, says Mads Lausen.
Offer for villages and small islands
The company is now coming up with a village concept for unmanned grocery trade. Here, locals need to invest around 100,000 to start up the store, and then Unlimit Retail will handle operations, stocking, and a telephone hotline. This concept would also be advantageous on small islands, says the director.
In Kramnitze, Janne Hansen is also gearing up for more. She is about to close a deal with the camping site at Hummingen Beach a couple of kilometers away to manage the campsite’s store. And Femern project’s nearest eastern neighbor—the summer house area Hyldtofte Østersøbad—has also inquired if they could have an unmanned grocer.
