Germany’s Cashierless Smart Stores: Slow Start but Rapid Growth

The entire article will be available for reading in Trade magazin 2025/05

The German grocery sector is often perceived as a late adopter of retail technology, particularly in a European context. However, a new study from DHBW Heilbronn provides an extensive overview of the rapid development of cashierless smart stores in Germany, revealing that the market has already grown to approximately 600 locations within just six years. While many European markets are still testing similar concepts, Germany’s expansion in this segment suggests that autonomous retail solutions are not merely a passing trend but an emerging format with long-term potential.

Germany’s first modern unmanned store, operated by Tante M, opened in July 2019. Since then, various retailers have introduced their own autonomous formats, covering different applications such as neighborhood convenience stores, travel retail, vending solutions, and fresh food vending.

Despite the rapid expansion of Germany’s Smart Store 24/7 sector, several challenges remain. Consumer adoption is mixed, with concerns about payment transparency and the lack of human interaction. Many customers still feel uneasy shopping in fully autonomous environments. Regulatory uncertainty further complicates growth, as only the federal states of Hesse and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern currently allow unmanned stores to operate on Sundays.

And the sustained growth of unmanned convenience stores in rural areas, direct farm retail, and travel hubs suggests that smart retail solutions will continue shaping the future of German grocery retail.