Thanks to its great popularity with customers, Valora is strengthening its focus on its hybrid avec 24/7 stores and is planning to expand the format to more than 20 locations in Switzerland. As a result, the foodvenience provider will cease to operate the completely autonomous avec box. The technology developed for this format and the wealth of knowledge that has been gained will be integrated fully into the hybrid 24/7 stores.
Valora currently operates six hybrid avec 24/7 stores in Switzerland – with staff during the day and autonomous access for customers at night. Here, convenience refers not only to the product range, but the entire shopping experience which can be done even more comfortably, at your own pace and outside of normal business hours. This flexible shopping experience is very popular with customers.
Therefore, Valora is planning to further expand the hybrid stores and intensify its focus on this format. Valora intends to convert more than 20 avec sales outlets into hybrid 24/7 stores by the beginning of 2024. Existing sales outlets simply have to be upgraded with the required technology and security measures.
As part of its focus on this hybrid concept, Valora will cease to operate the avec box locations in agreement with the relevant landlords. Valora is in contact with these landlords regarding the dates on which these locations will close.
Valora regrets the fact that, in spite of the support and encouragement of the customers, current demand for the avec box does not permit the profitable operation of this completely autonomous store concept at rented locations in the long term. The company would like to thank its customers for their loyalty and is looking forward to opening more hybrid 24/7 avec stores in the near future.
In April 2019, Valora became the first company in Switzerland to launch an autonomous convenience store in the form of avec box, allowing customers to shop around the clock, seven days a week. The technology developed for this format and the wealth of knowledge that has been gained will be integrated fully into the hybrid 24/7 stores.