<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/23/hybrid-village-stores-rural-germany-fend-off-far-right>
"Once upon a time, every German village had its own
Tante Emma laden (Aunt
Emma shop), a family-run hub of community life where local people bought their
groceries at affordable prices and shot the breeze with their neighbours.
But in recent years the loose network of small businesses throughout Europe’s
biggest economy has come under huge pressure from staffing shortages,
competition from supermarket chains and rising inflation, which the Iran war
has again sent surging.
Concerned that the creeping death of the stores is also fuelling the rural
disaffection that has driven many voters to political extremes, governments in
several regions have stepped in with some 21st-century innovation.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, where the far-right Alternative für Deutschland came
third with nearly 20% in a state election in March – a record in a west German
region – officials are seeking to root out the wellsprings of the party’s
appeal in rural areas.
Under a pilot programme known as hybrid village stores, existing businesses are
being retrofitted so villagers over the age of 18 can shop out of hours
autonomously: letting themselves in with an electronic fob or card, shopping
and paying on their own. Because they are available to customers at all hours
with lower labour costs, the shops make more money and are able to stay
afloat."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
