Breathe a sigh of relief in the Ahr valley: since last Sunday (22 January), a supply gap in the flood disaster area has been closed thanks to "Jörgs nahkauf-Box". Customers in Altenahr can shop around the clock seven days a week on a sales area of around 39 square metres. From apples to toothbrushes, there are around 800 items for everyday needs. Payment is made at a self-checkout till. The box is operated by REWE merchant Jörg Schäfer.

Great box: The innovative box is open around the clock The concept of the "walk-in store" is customer-friendly, extremely simple and offers an uncomplicated shopping experience. Customers can access the store around the clock using their debit or credit card. There they can move around freely and put together their purchase at their leisure. The assortment ranges from fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and frozen products to dry goods, non-alcoholic drinks and drugstore items. Special emphasis is placed on REWE store brands, organic products and regional and local suppliers. The payment process is cashless. Customers use their debit or credit card to pay for their purchases at one of the two self-checkout tills, where each item must be scanned independently.

Operator and namesake of the brand new nahkauf box: experienced REWE salesman Jörg Schäfer The supply of goods to the shop, as well as maintenance and care, is conceptually ensured by a merchant via the company's own flagship store. In Altenahr, it is REWE merchant Jörg Schäfer. He has been running REWE stores for over 20 years - one each in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (since 2000) and Grafschaft-Ringen (since 2013). "It has always been important to me to be more than just a local supplier. The devastating flood disaster in the summer of 2021 showed us, especially here in the Ahr Valley, how important cohesion, quick help and unconventional solutions are. Even over a year later, there is still a lack of infrastructure. That's why I was immediately convinced by the nahkauf box concept, especially for the non-mobile part of the population. I don't have to travel to the nearest shopping centre for my daily fresh food needs, I can get everything I need within walking distance in a small area," says Schäfer.

Jörg's nahkauf box on Altenburger Straße is easily accessible for the neighbouring Ahr residents Local mayor Rüdiger Fuhrmann is also looking forward to the new shopping opportunity: "Local supply is an essential building block for the attractiveness of a community. The new nahkauf concept brings an important piece of the puzzle to Altenahr as part of our further development. Especially after the flood disaster last year, it is important that all citizens can now get their basic supplies directly on site again and around the clock."

"With the nahkauf box concept, we are providing answers to the question of future-oriented local supply in rural areas and village settlements that are far from town centres. Our nahkauf format is perfect for these areas. In addition, this project proves once again that we are one of the most innovative companies in Germany when it comes to grocery shopping," emphasised REWE COO Peter Maly at the opening.