Westfalen opens Alvore smart shop after pilot
Unmanned container-based store offers daily convenience shopping in Ahaus industrial park.
Westfalen has opened its first public Alvore Smart Shop in Ahaus, following a successful pilot phase at the company’s headquarters in Münster.
The unmanned store is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and aims to provide employees and visitors of nearby businesses with convenient access to a broad range of products. Built in a portable shipping container, the shop offers 20 m2 of retail space stocked with beverages, sweets, snacks, ice cream, salad boxes, and other convenience items.
“We see great potential at this new site, especially for supplying the industrial park,” said Christin Liesenjohann, Head of Convenience Retail & Services at Westfalen. She added that the store is operated in partnership with Atefeh Raabe, a Westfalen station partner who also manages several other locations in Ahaus.
Entry is managed via credit or debit card authorization, with ID checks required for age-restricted products such as tobacco. Customers complete their purchases at a self-checkout terminal, which supports Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Security is ensured through video surveillance, access control, fire detection, and intercom systems. “We are delighted to continue the success of this concept in Ahaus and to offer customers a modern shopping experience,” Liesenjohann said.
