SVT Nyheter Sörmland has previously reported that the number of traditional country traders in the county has been at a stable level in recent years.
According to Region Sörmland, the figure still remains at 23 country stores in the spring of 2022. However, a significant increase has taken place in another category.
Six unmanned stores
Two years ago, there were no unmanned grocery stores in Sörmland, or even any plans for it.
There are now a total of six stores and another three have received green light from the municipality.
- This is a positive development.
It expands the service in the countryside, says Marcus Forss, strategist at Region Sörmland.
The development is ongoing throughout Sweden and according to HUI Research, which is owned by the industry organization Swedish Trade, it is above all technical advances linked to mobile bank ID and digitized payment that make it possible.
"A complement"
According to Marcus Forss, this together can be seen as something of a broken trend in terms of what has previously been described as a dismantling of services in rural areas.
- To a certain extent in any case.
What is positive is that we still have the physical stores in the countryside.
The unmanned personnel who have arrived now function as a complement, says Marcus Forss.