Jean Zeid 09:57, 02 January 2024

Every morning, Jean Zeid delivers the best in terms of innovation. This Tuesday, he returns to the "apiceries", this network of village mini-markets where all you need is a QR Code to enter.

Shopping close to home is not something so easy in France. In 2021, almost two-thirds of municipalities did not have one, i.e. 21,000 mainly rural municipalities. 10 million people are more than 20 minutes round trip from a supermarket. »

With this in mind, the Bordeaux-based start-up API was created in November 2022 by Alex Grammatico and Julien Nau with the aim of developing a network of village mini-markets.

And the first API convenience store opened at the end of 2022.

In Claix in Charente. Since then, they have multiplied, with nearly forty of these brands covering the territory, mainly in Nouvelle Aquitaine. For the municipality, it costs between 3,000 and 8,000 euros.

In the meantime, the government has launched the Reconquest of Rural Trade recovery program, which consists of supporting the establishment of businesses in territories that do not have them, which has largely supported the expansion of these rural convenience stores.

Convenience stores that are all designed on the same model.

These very urban shops at heart, as you will see, are 40 m², they are self-service, and accessible 7 days a week and 7/24. To enter, you must have a QR code that can be downloaded via a dedicated application. For those who don't have a smartphone, you can print the QR Code separately.

This QR code is used to enter the shop where there is neither a cashier or hostess, but an automatic checkout.

This is also why these convenience stores are less inclusive than they seem. There is a common misconception that everyone has mastered the digital revolution. However, the QR Code has not become part of the habits of all seniors, for example. But once you've shown how it works once, normally it's like riding a bike, you don't forget.

And the lack of staff has not prevented the success of these businesses?

No, there was fear among the founders of API. It should be noted that "apiciers", as they are called, come for two hours a day to ensure a constant shelving. The network has 700 references in its catalogue, with two-thirds 70 of them private labels, including Carrefour. 1 in 10 products is organic with prices a little more expensive than in supermarkets, but without a hammer blow. An API model that also avoids taking the car too often.