Avec Box: Valora brings cashierless shopping to Switzerland
In spring 2019, the first store to operate entirely without checkouts is to open at Wetzikon station. Even if this sounds a lot like Amazone Go, it's not Amazone behind it, but Valora.
Technology is at the heart of this project, according to a statement issued Thursday morning. "The Avec Box in Wetzikon will be open as long as the law or the landlord (in this case the SBB) allows - ideally seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It has a sales area of around 53 square meters. "On offer will be a convenience range with a high food and freshness content - similar to the newly launched Avec Stores in Bern, Landquart, Zurich, Wettingen, Saanen-Gstaad and Interlaken since mid-July 2018," the company informs.
"Fast and convenient shopping experience."
But it won't work entirely without employees. Even if access and payment are handled via the app, staff will be present on site during the morning and evening rush hours to help customers shop, restock the shelves and keep the premises tidy. "With the Avec Box, Valora is responding to the public's need for flexible shopping options," Roger Vogt, CEO Retail Switzerland at Valora, is quoted as saying in the release. "With Avec Box, convenience refers not only to the product range, but also to a practical and fast shopping experience," Vogt said. The building application has now been submitted to the city of Wetzikon, he said. The aim is for Avec Box at Wetzikon station to open its doors in spring 2019. As this is a completely new store concept in Switzerland, experience must first be gathered. A rollout to other parts of Switzerland is planned, according to Valora, but it is still too early to make any concrete statements.
Future Store coming in April 2019
Valora plans to open the previously announced Future Store at Zurich's main railway station in April 2019. It will be called Avec X and will primarily serve Valora as an experimental laboratory, testing newly developed digital aspects of the shopping experience such as payment options and personalized shopping. There are no plans to roll out Avec X to other regions. The company will provide concrete details on the design of Avec Box and Avec X at the appropriate time. (r.)
Great concept and great interior. The interior reminds us amazingly strongly of the Migrolino on Langstrasse Zurich ? ^dv pic.twitter.com/PXS90DIIp7
- Migros (@migros) December 6, 2018
