The Future of Organic Retail: Regional Foods Available Around the Clock
DBU Provides 125,000 Euros in Funding to a Startup
Regional and organically produced foods continue to gain importance in German households. The startup Regioshopper aims to boost the marketing of regional and organically produced foods through self-service markets that are open 24 hours a day. At the same time, it offers organic farmers an alternative to large retail chains. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is providing the young company with 125,000 euros in funding.
DBU Funds Startup Regioshopper
According to the Federal Environment Agency, regionally and organically produced foods are becoming increasingly important in German households. The startup Regioshopper aims to contribute to strengthening a sustainable food system and to improve the economic, regional marketing of organic foods through digitized, 24-hour self-service markets. The product range therefore focuses specifically on items sourced from within a 50-kilometer radius. At the same time, Regioshopper offers organic farmers an alternative to large retail chains. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is providing the young company with 125,000 euros in funding.
First Store: Over 3,000 Customers
Co-founder and CEO Hauke Rehme-Schlüter has a background in agriculture and has been piloting a supermarket based on the Regioshopper model in Osnabrück since May 2025. “After a quick registration in an app, customers can shop for regionally produced organic food around the clock. The payment process is also digital,” says Rehme-Schlüter. Behind the scenes, the market operates using its own intelligent logistics software, which is being further developed and professionalized with the help of DBU funding. Looking ahead, Regioshopper aims to use this blueprint to establish independent stores for regional organic foods nationwide by leasing the digital system and granting licenses. According to Rehme-Schlüter, the store operates with just one or two full-time employees instead of the six typically required in the industry. “This reduces costs and ensures competitiveness against large retail chains. Regional farmers also receive a larger share of sales,” said the co-founder. Theft protection is ensured through name-based registration and cameras installed in the store. Rehme-Schlüter: “Through our Osnabrück branch, farmely, more than 30 farms within a radius of no more than 50 kilometers are now collaborating. Already, more than 3,000 customers can choose from around 2,000 products.” The system has also recently been tested at the first small farm stands located directly on the farms and is being gradually optimized there as well to meet specific needs.
Automated local supermarkets and comprehensive logistics software
According to DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde, organically grown food has numerous positive effects on nature, biodiversity, and groundwater quality, among other things. “For many farms—often small and medium-sized ones—the transition to organic farming poses financial challenges. Innovative solutions can make organic crop farming more economically viable,” said Bonde. The Osnabrück-based startup Regioshopper supports this transition toward more sustainable practices in local agriculture by providing a reliable market for regional food products. Rehme-Schlüter: “Through franchising or licensing, we want to establish self-service stores nationwide that carry a wide variety of organic products from the respective regions.” Processes between farms, as well as logistics and sales, would be coordinated cost-effectively and sustainably via software. “We’re working with local experts to set up independent stores, including access to technology, store concepts, and expertise,” explains Rehme-Schlüter.
Fewer transport trips and less food waste
According to the founding team, Regioshopper offers extensive support to future store managers: “One or more farms can open a central farmely market in their own area. We help set up the store and establish the supply chains.” According to Rehme-Schlüter, precise demand forecasts supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and consolidated logistics help avoid unnecessary transport trips. A digitized delivery process is designed to prevent incorrect or excessively long storage, thereby reducing food waste. “This reduces climate-damaging emissions and lowers costs.” According to the Regioshopper founder, collaboration with regional farms strengthens short supply chains. The Regioshopper software is also designed to reduce administrative burdens for the farms—according to Rehme-Schlüter, “another financial and time-saving benefit. Sustainability and economic efficiency need not be a contradiction.” The system has also recently become available for small farm stands located directly on the farms. According to Rehme-Schlüter, there is also a professional collaboration and local networking with Regionalwert AG Bremen & Weser-Ems, which also develops educational projects centered on sustainable agriculture.
Sparking Enthusiasm for Organic Products
DBU department head Verena Exner sees the startup as an economically viable, licensable concept that can generate enthusiasm for organic products while simultaneously strengthening regional development. According to Exner, round-the-clock operating hours, transparent information about the origin of the products, and competitive prices make access to organic agriculture “low-threshold and practical.” “This digitalization can make regional organic products more attractive to new target groups,” she adds. The complementary development of educational programs in collaboration with agricultural businesses, along with networking efforts, would further raise awareness of the benefits of regional organic farming.
About the Green Startup Funding Program
Through the Green Startup grant program, the DBU supports founders who develop solutions for the environment, ecology, and sustainability in innovative and economically viable ways.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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