Rüedu: The Autonomous 24/7 Farm Store
Rüedu is more than a farm store—it's proof that local supply can be profitable around the clock. What began as a start-up in 2020 has become the blueprint for autonomous retail in Switzerland.
The Starting Point: Rethinking Profitability
Traditional retail often hits its limits when it comes to developing new locations in neighborhoods or rural areas. The fixed costs for personnel and infrastructure make many locations unprofitable.
Founded in 2020, Rüedu AG was looking for a way to offer fresh and fair food from the region 24/7 without falling into the cost trap of traditional opening hours. A particular challenge was the technical complexity: payment, security, access, and building control had to be seamlessly integrated to guarantee a smooth shopping experience without on-site staff.
The Connection: From Practice for Practice
This case is unique in our history. Jürg Burri, CEO of YourStore, was a co-founder of Rüedu AG. He was directly confronted with the "pains" of autonomous commerce from the very beginning.
Through the development of Rüedu, Jürg Burri gained valuable experience in the areas of payment, security, and building control. Experience that today benefits all our customers at YourStore.
Rüedu thus served as the ultimate laboratory for innovation. Technologies were not designed on the drawing board but were tested in the harsh reality of everyday operations before becoming part of the YourStore OS.
The Solution: Orchestration in a Container
Instead of relying on rigid, isolated solutions, Rüedu implemented a fully integrated orchestration layer through YourStore. The concept is based on modular "Store-in-a-Box" containers that can be placed flexibly.
The Core Modules in Use:
- Digital Access Management: Access is controlled digitally, combining security and simplicity for customers. Learn more
- Store Control: Lighting, temperature, and door control are automated via events, not manually. Learn more
- Security & Self-Checkout: A combination of surveillance and intuitive self-checkout enables unmanned operation around the clock. Learn more
- Management Platform: Central administration of all locations via a cloud solution. Learn more
The Result: Scalable Success
Rüedu's modular store concept has proven itself. Today, the autonomous containers are used in both urban and rural areas, creating an efficient offering in places where traditional retail would not be feasible.
The ultimate proof of the independence and stability of the YourStore solution came in the summer of 2024: Jürg Burri handed over his shares to co-founder Tom Winter. Since then, Rüedu has continued to operate as an independent, important customer—technologically supported by the operating system it helped to shape.
Your Advantages from This Case:
- Proven Technology: Every feature in the YourStore OS has passed the "Rüedu stress test."
- Modular Flexibility: We know exactly how to efficiently orchestrate container solutions.
Ready for your 24/7 project?
Would you, like Rüedu, like to operate autonomous locations efficiently? We'll show you how the YourStore OS orchestrates your hardware.