Future Store: Success Story since 2003

With the Future Store, METRO Group is driving forward the innovation process in the retailing sector. Some of the applications tested there are already used  in selected stores and outlets of METRO Group's sales brands. These include Radio Frequency Identification, Self-Checkouts and Smart Scales.

The Future Store was opened on April 28, 2003. Within less than one year after the founding of the METRO Group Future Store Initiative, the first future workshop of retailing opened its gates in Rheinberg (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). The German top model Claudia Schiffer was among the first visitors. In addition, numerous invited guests, such as journalists and local representatives of politics and business, attended the official opening ceremony. Less than one year later the Future Store already welcomed its thousandth visitor group. The track record of the Future Store after four years: 31,000 visitors from 63 countries.

In spring 2006, the initiative "Germany – Land of Ideas" conferred an award to the Future Store in Rheinberg as one of 365 "Locations in the Land of Ideas". With this nationwide project, the German government and private companies wanted to strengthen Germany's reputation throughout the world as a center of innovation. With the Future Store, this concept worked out excellently. China's Deputy Minister of Commerce and Deputy Minister of Justice as well as trade delegations from New Zealand and Australia were among the guests of the Future Store.

At the end of May 2008, the Future Store moved from Rheinberg to Toenisvorst on the Lower Rhine. At the real,- Future Store, consumers can already experience today how cutting-edge technologies and innovative services will make shopping a more convenient and exciting experience.