Since 2015, the government has been paying a subsidy to the entrepreneurs who run the smallest grocery stores in Sweden's sparsely populated and rural areas.
Mikaela Karlsson receives a grant for her shop, which she runs in the village of Lillhärdal, near the border between Ljusdal and Härjedalen municipality.
But it was not a given that she would have her own grocery store.
Should become a farmer
It was love that made Mikaela Karlsson move to Lillhärdal.
She learned to drive a tractor and had intended to leave the career path in the grocery trade.
But when the village's only shop was to close, she was forced to reschedule.
She could not imagine living in a place without a grocery store.
- I knew that the support already existed when I started.
I might have been able to keep the store open in some form without the support, but if it disappears, I will either have to reduce the opening hours or lay off staff and I really do not want that.
I want to offer as many job opportunities in the village as I can, says Mikaela Karlsson.
A hub in the village
In addition to groceries, she sells everything from car batteries to local crafts.
She has a café and is an agent for, for example, pharmacies and Systembolaget.
She has long fought to become a representative for Postnord as well, and earlier this autumn it went through.
Previously, the residents had to drive 30 km one way to Sveg to pick up packages, but now everything is needed in Lillhärdal, Lasse Dahl thinks.
- Now they can shut down Sveg, he says jokingly when he sits in Mikaela's café and drinks coffee.
Service person of the year
Earlier this autumn, Mikaela Karlsson was named Service Person of the Year 2021 by Härjedalen Municipality.