Sundays Aren't Just for Lounging: Green Party Pushes for Round-the-Clock Mini-Supermarkets
Permit weekend operations for smaller, eco-friendly marketplaces. - Pro-Greens advocate for Sunday operation of small supermarkets
In a surprising move, the Green Party is advocating for mini-supermarkets across the southwest to open their doors—and digital platforms—on Sundays, aiming to improve local supply and convenience for citizens.
"We're all about securing a solid legal foundation for these digitally operated, staff-free mini-supermarkets, making them accessible around the clock, even on Sundays," Andreas Schwarz, Green Party faction leader, told the German Press Agency in Stuttgart. The goal? To clarify the legal gray area surrounding this business model, which currently doesn't prevent these mini-markets from operating seven days a week.
From the Green Party's perspective, enhancing the legal certainty for these stores could lead to a surge in their establishment, ensuring that rural residents can conveniently purchase everyday essentials within their communities. "The last thing we want is for residents to have to embark on a mile-long journey to the nearest supermarket simply for some fresh milk or a restock on flour and sugar," Schwarz commented.
Retail expert Stephan Rüschen of the Dual University of Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) in Heilbronn echoes this sentiment, noting that Sunday opening hours would significantly boost these markets' revenue. According to Rüschen, these markets can generate two to three times the turnover on Sundays compared to regular weekdays.
It's important to mention that, while this push for change is happening in the southwest, the legal authority for mini-supermarkets to open on Sundays isn't solely within the power of the Green Party or any political entity. Germany's retail laws are intricately regulated, with federal and state regulations heavily influencing store hours. Currently, most supermarkets in the country cannot legally open on Sundays, but certain exemptions exist in cases like transit locations or under special local ordinances.
This push for change could face strong resistance, especially from labor unions and religious organizations, and require extensive legislative action at the state level. As the debate continues, residents in the southwest can keep their fingers crossed for fresh milk and flour, seven days a week!
- Sunday
- Retail
- Milk
- Stuttgart
- Andreas Schwarz
- Southwest
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- German Press Agency
- Labor Unions
- Religious Organizations
- Legislation
- 24/7 Operation
- Andreas Schwarz, the leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, proposed to the German Press Agency in Stuttgart that mini-supermarkets in the southwest should operate 24/7, including on Sundays, to provide convenience for citizens.
- Retail expert Stephan Rüschen suggests that Sunday opening hours for these mini-markets could significantly boost their revenue, potentially generating two to three times the turnover on Sundays compared to regular weekdays.
- The Green Party's push for mini-supermarkets to operate on Sundays may face strong resistance, particularly from labor unions and religious organizations, and likely requires extensive legislative action at the state level.
- From the Green Party's perspective, ensuring legal certainty for these stores could lead to an increase in their establishment, allowing rural residents to easily purchase milk, flour, and other everyday essentials within their communities.
