These high-tech, unstaffed stores are tiny, and open 24/7 to help residents get their groceries in rural Sweden. Take a look inside.

Mary HanburyAug 8, 2021, 15:24 IST

Inside a Lifvs store.Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Stockholm-based startup Lifvs created technology to run self-service grocery stores in Sweden.
These stores are unstaffed and run remotely, which means they can be open 24/7.
Low labor and rental costs enabled Lifvs to open stores in low traffic areas and rural communities.

Stockholm-based startup Lifvs set up and runs mini grocery stores in rural parts of Sweden.

The company launched in 2018. Lifvs Press

The stores are completely unstaffed for most of the time.

A Lifvs unmanned supermarket in Veckholm, a village of a few hundred people, about 80 kilometres from Stockholm. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

Cofounder and COO Daniel Lundh told Insider that he launched the company in 2018 because he wanted to solve food deserts (an area that has limited access to fresh food) in rural Sweden.

Daniel Lundh co-founded the company. Lifvs press

Cofounder and COO Daniel Lundh told Insider that he launched the company in 2018 because he wanted to solve food deserts (an area that has limited access to fresh food) in rural Sweden.

"We wanted to go where we were needed most," Lundh said. Livfs has 27 stores across Sweden.

It's the largest unmanned grocery chain in Europe (though its direct competition is limited). JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

The "modules" its stores are housed in are made off-site and shipped to each location.

The Lifvs stores. Lifvs press

These buildings are built from scratch. They are designed to be the perfect width and weight to be transported on the back of the truck.

The modules being transported across Sweden. Lifvs press

It requires several permits to base a store in a particular location. But once power access is in place, it only takes hours to open a new location.

The front of a Lifvs store. Lifvs Press

So how do you actually shop at a Lifvs store?

A man enters the Lifvs unmanned supermarket store. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

Once inside, the customer is free to browse.

The Lifvs app. Lifvs Press

Lundh says the technology behind the app uses AI to offer customers personalized deals and coupons based on their previous shopping trips.

Deals and discounts appear on the app. Lifvs press

The technology used at Lifvs is akin to what Amazon uses at its cashierless stores, Amazon Go.

Inside a Lifvs store. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Lifvs stocks around 550 product stock-keeping units (SKU), including meat, vegetables, dairy products, and household goods. Amazon Go convenience size stores stock around 1,000 SKUs, for comparison.

It doesn't have a license to sell alcohol but plans to sell tobacco in vending machines soon. Lifvs Press

Lifvs stocks around 550 product stock-keeping units (SKU), including meat, vegetables, dairy products, and household goods. Amazon Go convenience size stores stock around 1,000 SKUs, for comparison.

Lundh said his team initially had no idea what quantities of food to order up but gradually the data it's collected on customers' shopping trips has enabled its techology to make better estimates.

A member of staff will visit the store every other day. Lifvs Press

Lundh said his team initially had no idea what quantities of food to order up but gradually the data it's collected on customers' shopping trips has enabled its techology to make better estimates.

This shopping experience is well-suited to Covid times.

Contact-free shopping. Lifvs Press

The lack of staff keeps low labor costs low but it also makes the store more susceptible to shoplifting.

A security camera is pictured in a Lifvs store. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

While Livfs plans to keep expanding in Sweden, its biggest opportunity for growth is licensing its technology to other retailers, Lundh said.

Lifvs press

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These high-tech, unstaffed stores are tiny, and open 24/7 to help residents get their groceries in rural Sweden. Take a look inside.

Stockholm-based startup Lifvs set up and runs mini grocery stores in rural parts of Sweden.

The stores are completely unstaffed for most of the time.

Cofounder and COO Daniel Lundh told Insider that he launched the company in 2018 because he wanted to solve food deserts (an area that has limited access to fresh food) in rural Sweden.

"We wanted to go where we were needed most," Lundh said. Livfs has 27 stores across Sweden.

The "modules" its stores are housed in are made off-site and shipped to each location.

These buildings are built from scratch. They are designed to be the perfect width and weight to be transported on the back of the truck.

It requires several permits to base a store in a particular location. But once power access is in place, it only takes hours to open a new location.

So how do you actually shop at a Lifvs store?

Once inside, the customer is free to browse.

Lundh says the technology behind the app uses AI to offer customers personalized deals and coupons based on their previous shopping trips.

The technology used at Lifvs is akin to what Amazon uses at its cashierless stores, Amazon Go.

Lifvs stocks around 550 product stock-keeping units (SKU), including meat, vegetables, dairy products, and household goods. Amazon Go convenience size stores stock around 1,000 SKUs, for comparison.

Lundh said his team initially had no idea what quantities of food to order up but gradually the data it's collected on customers' shopping trips has enabled its techology to make better estimates.

This shopping experience is well-suited to Covid times.

The lack of staff keeps low labor costs low but it also makes the store more susceptible to shoplifting.

While Livfs plans to keep expanding in Sweden, its biggest opportunity for growth is licensing its technology to other retailers, Lundh said.