Købmanden 24/7 – a grocer created by the local community

In Egense, the local community has got its own grocer back. Købmanden 24/7 is a hybrid grocery concept where local commitment, flexibility and modern technology go hand in hand.

The store opened on 12 May and has seen strong support from both locals and tourists since opening. For Købmanden 24/7, it’s not just about having a place to buy groceries – it’s about creating a store that fits the people who actually use it.

A store that adapts to local needs

The employees at Købmanden 24/7 are locals themselves and therefore have a good sense of what customers are looking for. This makes it possible to continuously adapt the product range to both season and demand.

The range is broad. Here you’ll find everything from cucumbers and milk to disposable grills and firelighters – depending on what customers need. Input from locals is an important part of developing the range, so that in-demand items, as far as possible, make it onto the shelves.

– It’s their grocer. They need to feel they have influence – because they’re the ones who make it happen, says Karina Brandstrup, Store Manager at Købmanden 24/7 in Egense

Flexible shopping – even when the store is unmanned

During the day, there are employees in the store from 7:00 to 19:00. After that, the store continues as an unmanned store, where customers can gain access via an app or key fob.

When customers shop on their own, it’s important that the process is as simple and frictionless as possible. That’s why technology plays a central role in daily operations. Delfi Technologies has, among other things, supplied Zebra DS9308 scanners, Epson TM-T20IV receipt printers and Delfi labels, which are used in connection with self-checkout and make it easy for customers to complete their purchase.

– When the store needs to operate unmanned, it’s crucial that the technology simply works. Customers must be able to enter, shop and pay without issues, even when there isn’t an employee present, says Karina Brandstrup.

Digital price tags from Delfi Technologies are also an important part of the solution. Prices can be updated without an employee having to walk around the store and change signs manually. At the same time, the solution can be supported remotely, which is a clear advantage when the store isn’t always staffed.

Local engagement makes the difference

Around half of the customers are locals, while the other half are tourists. This means the store needs to meet different needs – both from those who use it as their local grocery store, and from the many who visit the area.

For Købmanden 24/7, the close interaction with customers is therefore an important part of the concept. With local employees, direct input from customers and a range that is continuously adapted to season and demand, Købmanden 24/7 becomes a store that evolves together with the local community.