Green party BW calls for authorization of staff-less mini-supermarkets
Let's talk about the latest shakeup in retail shopping, shall we?
The Green party in Baden-Württemberg's state parliament has proposed an amendment to the Retail Opening Hours Law to allow mini-supermarkets to operate on Sundays without staff. Curbing those last-minute panic runs for milk, eggs, and flour, these stores have become a lifesaver for many, especially in rural areas.
Why the change?
Andreas Schwarz, the Green faction leader in Stuttgart, explains that providing a secure legal basis for digitally organized self-service stores will significantly improve local supply for citizens. As it stands, Sunday opening hours for these stores are in a legal gray area.
The amendment aims to clarify that these mini-markets can operate 24/7 and take their place as reliable neighborhood shops, stocked with daily necessities - without forcing people to travel miles for fresh milk or goods when they run out.
Benefits for all parties
Retail expert Stephan Rüschen of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Heilbronn believes that official permission for Sunday opening hours could lead to a surge in sales for these stores, with operators making two to three times the sales compared to normal weekdays.
Pushback from the religious and labor sectors
However, the "Alliance for the Free Sunday," a union of Catholic and Protestant churches, ver.di, and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), has voiced criticism. They argue that Sunday opening hours may put other businesses at a disadvantage in the local supply chain.
The neighboring state of Hesse has already passed a corresponding amendment to its Retail Opening Hours Law, permitting stores with a max size of 120 square meters to only sell daily necessities on Sundays.
As discussions around retail modernization and digitization continue, it will be interesting to see whether Baden-Württemberg follows suit and how the retail landscape may evolve. Stay tuned for updates!
The amendment introduced by the Green party aims to foster technology-driven, self-service stores in neighborhoods, bridging the gap in local supply for citizens in retail and finance sectors. Retail expert Stephan Rüschen foresees a potential increase in sales for these stores, given the possibility of Sunday opening hours, potentially boosting the technology-driven retail industry.
