Key Facts
- Location: Jena, Holzmarkt 6 (former commercial unit).
- Concept: Fully automated 24/7 supermarket (“Tante Zukunft”).
- Investment: Approximately 120,000 euros for robotics technology.
- Operator: Willy Götze (Tante Zukunft GmbH).
Jena. The shop windows at Holzmarkt 6 are still covered, but the lettering already reveals that no ordinary boutique is moving in here. In the heart of the Lichtstadt Jena, young entrepreneur Willy Götze is preparing a small revolution for local retail. With the “Tante Zukunft” concept, the rigid adherence to shop opening hours is intended to become a thing of the past.
High-tech instead of checkout staff
The centerpiece of the new store is not a classic shelf wall, but a state-of-the-art picking robot. The Thuringian entrepreneur has invested around 120,000 euros in the technology to catapult shopping into the future. Unlike simple snack vending machines known from train stations, this is fourth-generation robotics.
The system is capable of managing and dispensing a wide range of products. A special highlight for customers: the robot can also handle frozen goods. This means the store not only covers spontaneous thirst but also enables the purchase of groceries for a quick dinner or supplies – completely independent of the time of day.
Gap in urban local supply
The idea for the project came to Götze during his studies in Jena. While so-called “Wurst-Automaten” (sausage vending machines) from butcher shops or “Regiomaten” are already part of everyday life in rural regions of Thuringia, the second-largest city in the Free State has lacked a comparable offer in the center until now.
Although there are various late-night shops (“Spätis”) in Jena, these also usually close late at night. Real 24/7 availability of daily necessities was previously sought in vain at Holzmarkt. When the opportunity arose at the end of 2024 to use the commercial unit at Holzmarkt 6, the entrepreneur seized it. The central location between the city center and Paradiesbahnhof promises a high frequency of walk-in customers, students, and night owls.
Financing and outlook
Such a project is a financial feat. The six-figure sum for the robot was financed through loans and the Thüringer Bürgschaftsbank. The entrepreneur also hopes for subsidies for the innovative concept.
Currently, the final work is taking place behind the scenes. Exactly when the first customer will be able to order their frozen meal via touchscreen is not yet fixed to the day, but preparations are entering the home stretch. For Jena, the opening marks another step towards a Smart City, where technology makes the daily lives of citizens more flexible.
We will keep you informed as soon as the official opening date is set.
Source:
Thuringia: 120,000-euro robot to become the supermarket of the future – Thueringen24
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.