REWE's concept test for local supply in rural areas continues: under the name "Paolos nahkauf Box", there are now two so-called walk-in stores in two districts of the district town of Hofheim am Taunus (Main-Taunus district): The box in Wildsachsen was also officially opened. The nahkauf box in Langenhain at Sportplatzstraße 15 opened on 23 March. A few days later, on 27 March, the second box celebrated its opening in Wildsachsen. Paolo's nahkauf boxes are operated by the experienced merchant Paolo Pennella, who runs nahkauf stores in Diedenbergen and Mainz-Kastel. The space is provided by the district town.
On a sales area of around 40 square metres each - easily accessible and operated without staff - customers can shop 24 hours a day in the nahkauf box.

From apples to toothbrushes
The assortment ranges from fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and frozen products to dry goods, non-alcoholic drinks and drugstore items. From apples to toothbrushes, there are around 800 items for everyday needs. Special emphasis is placed on REWE store brands, organic products and regional and local suppliers. The payment process is cashless. The checkout works cashless with EC card. Customers pay for their purchases with a debit or credit card at a self-checkout till, where each item must be scanned independently. After paying, customers can leave the store with their purchase.
"It's great that we have now been able to bring the nahkauf boxes to Hofheim. We are very proud to be operating two of the first test stores in Germany. The town of Hofheim, above all Mayor Christian Vogt, has worked hard to ensure that residents will be able to buy fresh groceries for their daily needs right on their doorstep in future. I would like to thank everyone involved," said Paolo Pennella at the opening.

"Village development in our neighbourhoods is one of our most important goals. A good local supply is an important part of this. We are therefore delighted that we have found a solution together with REWE to create an attractive offer in Langenhain and Wildsachsen," added Mayor Christian Vogt.

Around 8,000 underserved localities throughout Germany
The first nahkauf box opened in spring 2022 in the Upper Franconian municipality of Pettstadt. There has been a box in Ahrtal since the beginning of 2023. Further test stores followed in districts of Moritzburg (Saxony), Bad Langensalza (Thuringia), Zeitz (Saxony-Anhalt) and Haunsheim (Bavarian Swabia). With the two stores that have now opened, we now operate a total of eight locations.

Old market closed eleven years ago
For over 30 years, there was a food retailers in the centre of Langenhain that provided local supplies. In 2013, after several changes of operator, it was closed for economic reasons. Since then, the district town's economic development agency had been trying to find a new operator or to establish a food centre at the entrance to the village.

The village shop became a library
The last grocery shop in Wildsachen closed at the end of the 1990s. It was not until 2007 that the district town succeeded in launching a project in cooperation with the social welfare organisation "Selbsthilfe im Taunus", which established a small village shop in the former town hall. This remained in existence until 2011. Due to a lack of successors, the premises subsequently became a library. Everything in the great box: There are around 800 items for everyday needs.