Supermarket Operates Round-the-Clock for the First Time, Run by "Grillfluencer"
In the heart of Bergisch Gladbach, a unique shopping experience has emerged on Paffrather Street. The ground-floor location of a multi-family house now houses "Automart," an innovative supermarket concept by entrepreneur and YouTuber Joscha Bastians.
"Automart" offers a new way of shopping, with customers purchasing products from vending machines. The food vending machine caters to various tastes, offering currywurst for €4 and cheese spaetzle with fried onions for €5. The supermarket's product range extends beyond groceries, including drugstore items and warm dishes.
The 24/7, seven-days-a-week operation sets "Automart" apart, making it a convenient choice for late-night shopping or early-morning essentials. The supermarket, which was previously a fitness studio with an ice sauna, is poised for expansion, with plans to significantly increase its product range.
Currently, the vending machines only accept cash, but card payments are set to be introduced in the future. The machines offer a variety of drugstore and everyday items, although fresh produce, pasta, rice, flour, spices, canned goods, dairy products, and fresh meat are not yet available.
However, a machine filled with fresh products, currently empty, is planned to stock meat, milk, and butter. Milk products, eggs, and cosmetics are the most frequently requested items by customers, and a QR code system allows customers to request products for the future.
Joscha Bastians, known as a "grill influencer" in the grilling community, is also the owner of the Bergisch Gladbach specialty store "Grillgoods" and an online retailer for grilling accessories. The supermarket's facade now glows orange, and the interior walls are clad with wood, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
As "Automart" continues to grow and evolve, it promises to bring a new shopping experience to Bergisch Gladbach, with more dishes, including two to three different pizzas, planned for the food vending machine.
In the evolving shopping landscape of Bergisch Gladbach, "Automart" supermarket, housed in a home-and-garden setting, offers a unique lifestyle experience with its 24/7 vending machine concept. Expanding beyond traditional supermarket offerings, "Automart" aims to include warm dishes, such as pizzas, in its food vending machine selection.
