Aaron's rolling supermarket: Fresh food for lonely villages!

Aaron's rolling supermarket: Fresh food for lonely villages!

In rural regions it is becoming increasingly difficult to guarantee basic services. Aaron, a 26-year-old entrepreneur from Keltern, has addressed this problem with a creative solution: Since 2022, he has been running two mobile supermarkets that supply remote places in Baden-Württemberg with food and everyday goods. His weekly trips include almost 70 towns, which are often only sparsely equipped with shopping facilities. “The days of corner stores are coming to an end,” Aaron notes, addressing a key problem that exists in many rural areas [SWR] reports that...

Aaron got the idea for his rolling supermarket from an ad in the local newspaper that was selling an existing mobile market. After a handover period of four weeks, during which the previous owner familiarized him with the financial processes, Aaron got started. The range ranges from fresh food to care products and flowers. “The special thing is that, if desired, I bring the purchases to the customer’s kitchen,” says Aaron. This service is particularly beneficial for older people and people who live alone, who often have little social contact.

A social meeting place on wheels

The mobile supermarket has quickly developed into a social meeting place. Many customers are not only happy about the goods, but also about the conversation and exchange with neighbors and friends. Aaron's commitment and his passion for his work make business success possible. His family is also involved in the business: the second car is driven by his father, and Aaron's wife plans to also become actively involved in the business soon.

The challenges of local supply are not just a local phenomenon. A study shows that around two-thirds of the rural population lives within a kilometer of a grocery store, and many small shops are forced to close because they are no longer financially viable [Digital Connection] reports that...

Promising solutions

However, with the establishment of village shops, which are often set up by citizens' associations or cooperatives, there are committed approaches to improving local supplies. These stores offer fresh products, strengthen the regional economy and focus on sustainability. Another innovative solution has emerged mobile sales points that not only deliver groceries, but also offer additional services such as medication deliveries and cash withdrawals. An example of this is HEIKO's rolling supermarket, which supplies over 25,000 customers in the Eifel region every week.

The federal ministries recognize the need to support rural areas. The “LandVersorge” project supports model projects that are looking for new ways to provide local supplies. The focus is on concepts such as delivery services, digital support and adapting store concepts to the needs of the rural population [BMEL] reports that...

These initiatives not only shed light on the current nature of care structures, but also increase awareness of the importance of social interaction in rural communities. Aaron's mobile supermarket shows that with heart and a bit of creativity, innovative and necessary solutions can be found to increase the quality of life in rural regions.