Feneberg (D)
Wanzl implements self-service concept for Feneberg in Oberstaufen – existing space redesigned for staff-free operation
Staff-free local supermarket concept with Wanzl
The project officially kicked off in March 2023 and was followed by a series of planning and coordination phases. The store, with its new self-service concept, opened in October of the same year. During normal opening hours between 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, customers can access the premises by registering a debit or credit card on the screen on Wanzl's external wall-mounted stand. Thanks to the latest generation of readers, Apple Pay and Google Pay can also be used for access. Since both access and payment in the store are staff-free, Wanzl has designed the entire shopping process to be intuitive and barrier-free. FENE – der kleine Feneberg – is spacious and clearly laid out. It is ideal for a quick shop but, at the same time, offers an extensive standard range. Shades of green and red in the shop fittings follow the corporate design of Feneberg Lebensmittel GmbH. Wood elements reflect its connection to the region. Customers can use screens to learn more about the latest offers, new products or information about suppliers.
“With us, the customer gets everything from a single source. We work closely with the customer’s teams to achieve the best result. This allows us to implement projects of any kind quickly and effectively – including self-service stores in rural regions such as the Feneberg store in Oberstaufen,” says Michael Uitz, Senior Director Sales Retail Germany at Wanzl and the main project manager. “When it came to the implementation, it was important that we could integrate a separate area with additional age control so that sensitive products would not be freely accessible,” says Michael Uitz, describing another special feature of this project.
At the FENE store in Oberstaufen, alcoholic beverages are located in a separate area for people over the age of 18. This area can only be accessed after age verification using an ID card or driving licence at another Wanzl entry system with extra-high swivel arms made from toughened safety glass, including security sensors. The sensor triggers an alarm signal when necessary. The IT department of the EDEKA group of companies, which the Feneberg chain is a part of, provided a compatible checkout system at short notice with a solution from their own company. Various processes in the store are controlled and monitored centrally and digitally via wanzl connect®, a cloud-based software platform. Of course, the store operator also has access to wanzl connect®, for example to control the lighting or view the anonymous people count during staff-free operating hours via the intuitive platform in real time. This saves time-consuming manual processes on site. Customers can move freely around the store and make their purchases almost exactly the same way they would in a conventional supermarket. Practical Wanzl shopping baskets can be found right at the entrance. A large selection of fresh products, such as fruit, vegetables, meat, sausages and baked goods from the Wanzl Bake Off module, as well as convenience products, frozen goods, hygiene articles and beverages, then follow. The most special feature of all are Feneberg's own-brand products, which underline the family-owned company's regional focus. For example, all of the products from Feneberg's organic brand “VonHier” come from within a radius of 100 kilometres of the company’s registered office in Kempten. After the customer has scanned the goods at one of the three self-checkout terminals, they pay using cashless technology. All that needs to be done to leave the store is to scan the receipt to ensure that the purchase has been paid for. The swivel arms on the Wanzl ColourGate then open and the customer can leave the store. This means that the store can be run completely staff-free. Currently, employees are still on site every day to explain the new shop concept and technology to customers. In the future, a constant availability of goods could also be controlled via an AI-supported solution.
"Wanzl’s self-service concept is perfect for operating locations in very rural regions with very few available personnel to enable local supply to residents. Our new FENE concept offers us new opportunities to provide an additional service to our customers,” says Amelie Feneberg. “Currently, our employees are still supporting customers who need help with the technology.” The self-service model is forward-looking and effectively counteracts current challenges in the food retail sector. For instance, it also offers stores the option of extending opening hours or making quiet periods more effective. for this purpose, Wanzl finds custom solutions for each location in close cooperation with all those involved. “We are monitoring the development of our new store and identifying important lessons learned for potential additional locations,” says Amelie Feneberg.
