From the milk churn to the farm store

It all began in 2016 with a simple idea: to sell fresh milk around the clock directly to consumers via milk vending machines. The direct contact with the local population and the immediate availability of fresh products quickly met with great approval. Within a few years, the range was expanded, and in 2021 the farm's own dairy followed to offer other dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt. Today, Gottschalks Hof is known throughout the region and also supplies other farm stores, restaurants and regional retailers.

The switch from vending machines to self-service checkouts

With growing success, however, came challenges. The vending machines originally used proved to be increasingly problematic: product jamming, technical faults and frequent maintenance led to ever-increasing burdens for the business. "The vending machines had to be constantly maintained, which took up a lot of time and resources. They also limited our product range considerably because every new product had to be entered and mechanically adjusted at great expense," explains Christoph Gottschalk.

To avoid these problems, the decision was made in favor of an autonomous farm store with a self-checkout POS system from LocaFox. "The new solution is stable and runs without any problems. Our customers can now choose from a wider range of products without any technical restrictions," explains Gottschalk enthusiastically.

Advantages of the self-checkout checkout compared to vending machines at a glance:

• Trouble-free operation without mechanical problems
• No more product jams or technical failures
• No change problems thanks to cashless payment
• Simplified, automated accounting and less administrative work
• Significantly reduced time expenditure due to fewer maintenance and support assignments
• Flexibility in product range design, no mechanical limitation

Security and customer access optimally solved

Security played an equally important role for Gottschalk. In order to ensure safe operation around the clock, the farm store was equipped with a comprehensive security system. Cameras monitor the sales area around the clock, and a modern access control system allows customers to enter with their bank card - simply and securely. Interested farm stores can benefit from this expertise, as LocaFox works together with an experienced partner for this purpose.

Focus on customer satisfaction

Since the changeover, customers have particularly appreciated the flexibility of being able to shop at any time. The most popular products remain raw milk, eggs, meat and sausage products as well as the farm's own ice cream and creamy yogurt.

"Our customers love the new system! They no longer have to think about opening hours and still enjoy personal contact, as I'm often on site," Gottschalk reports proudly.

Reliability that convinces

A key advantage of the self-checkout system is its reliability. Unlike the susceptible vending machines, the LocaFox checkout runs stably and trouble-free. The simple bookkeeping is also particularly noteworthy: "I no longer have to keep a daily cash book, and the data transfer to the tax consultant runs automatically and smoothly. This saves an enormous amount of time and effort," emphasizes Gottschalk.

Vision for the future

Thanks to the autonomous system, Gottschalks Hof has become much more flexible. In the future, the family business plans to further expand its range and offer even more regional products. An expansion of the farm store is also already under discussion.

Christoph Gottschalk is convinced: "Autonomous farm stores and digital solutions are the future. Many colleagues are already interested in our concept. I'm sure that cashless self-checkout solutions in farm stores will become increasingly popular."

Courage to change - a model for success

Despite initial skepticism regarding card-only payments, expectations were far exceeded. Christoph Gottschalk has a particularly fond memory of an elderly couple who paid by card for the first time ever - in his farm store of all places.

The step towards an autonomous farm store with LocaFox has not only optimized operational processes, but also increased customer loyalty and satisfaction. Gottschalk's farm is a clear role model for other farm stores - because the courage to change pays off in the long term.