Beside the seaside: Rimi Baltic Group tests out Rimi Express unmanned autonomous store in Tallinn, Estonia

Rimi has opened its first unmanned, self-service store in the Baltic.

This is situated in Tallinn (the capital of Estonia) in the Noblessner district located by the seaside.

The pilot project lays the foundation for a possible round the clock shopping experience. The Rimi Express store is a 32 square metre, environmentally friendly wooden building.

Kristel Mets, CMD at Rimi Estonia, calls it a “completely new approach in terms of both technical solutions and customer experience.”

She says: “We chose the Noblessner area, which, with its modern and innovative atmosphere, is the perfect place to test a new store. Here we get a good experience on how to offer a shopping opportunity to both locals and tourists and a large number of people simultaneously during major summer events.”

“We thank everyone who has contributed to implementing this pilot project, and we look forward to the customers' first impressions and feedback."

A bank card is required to enter the store.

Customers scan their goods themselves and pay for them at the checkout with said card. Assortment includes about 600 everyday essentials, for instance, fruits and vegetables, ready made meals, snacks, drinks, and hygiene products.

There are no products in the assortment that customers need to weigh themselves. In addition, alcohol and tobacco products cannot be bought.

In a LinkedIn post, Sharon Yourell Lawlor of TPD Consulting, said: “Self-service retail evolution is not a one size fits all offering. Different types of self-service solutions will support different types of shopping missions for different customers in different locations with different assortment types.”

“I love this autonomous store example just opened in Tallinn, Estonia by Rimi Baltic Group.”

“Choosing a particular location with a target shopper in mind who values a frictionless convenient shopping experience, there’s a planned assortment which will work well within an unmanned retail store.”

“The important thing to note here is that is that you have to test and learn and that’s what they’re doing.”