Rimi Express: Estonia's first self-service supermarket with no staff

Rimi, one of the largest supermarket chains in Northern Europe has opened its first self-service employee-free concept store in the heart of Tallinn's Noblessner district. Known as Rimi Express, the store is a trailblazer in sustainable and innovative retail, constructed from environmentally friendly wood materials and covering 32 square metres.

Customers gain entry into the supermarket by scanning their bank card at the entrance, after which the doors open automatically. Customers can then independently select and scan groceries from a range of 600 everyday essentials. These items include packaged fruits, vegetables, ready-made meals, snacks, drinks, hygiene products, and cooking ingredients. Alcohol, tobacco, and items requiring weighing are not available.

The shopping process is entirely cashless, with purchases completed at self-service checkouts using a bank card. An automated people-counting system regulates store capacity, maintaining safety by monitoring the number of shoppers inside and controlling access when capacity is reached. Those who do not make a purchase can easily exit the store by pressing the exit button.

 

 

Rimi Express serves as a pilot project in Estonia as the first employee-free concept store. The success of this project has led to plans for expansion, with the second Rimi self-service store opening at the Rimi Olympic Centre in Latvia.