{"id":13604,"date":"2022-02-23T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stories.valora.com\/?p=13604"},"modified":"2022-08-17T09:27:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T07:27:20","slug":"avec-the-flexible-convenience-concept-for-any-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.valora.com\/en\/avec-the-flexible-convenience-concept-for-any-location\/","title":{"rendered":"avec: the flexible convenience concept for any location"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The avec concept was completely revised in 2018 \u2013 more food, more freshness and more regional focus. And all with a new look. Since then, Valora has developed various other avec sales outlet formats, thanks in part to digital innovations.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around three and a half years ago, Valora opened the first completely refurbished avec shop at Bern railway station. This prototype of Switzerland\u2019s most modern foodvenience concept<\/a> was the starting signal for the continuous expansion and further development of the offering. The new avec stores offer fresh convenience food, bakery products that vary according to the time of day as well as interesting sandwich creations and salads. In a nutshell \u2013 many more fresh products in a new, modern store design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The convenience format at highly frequented locations<\/strong> like train stations and service stations is open with its extensive range 365 days a year from early until late with fresh products for immediate consumption.<\/p>\n

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Concept<\/th>\n Classic bricks-and-mortar store<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Launch<\/th>\n 2000 (2018 fully revamped) <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Stores<\/th>\n 166<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Opening hours<\/th>\n Mon\u2013Sat\/Sun (early until late)
\n Option 24\/7 operation<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Access<\/th>\n Normal access, avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Payment<\/th>\n Cash register, avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n
+<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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The sales format<\/strong> offers the classic avec convenience and snacking range in a more compact space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Concept<\/th>\n Classic bricks-and-mortar store<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Launch<\/th>\n 2021<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Stores<\/th>\n 8<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Opening hours<\/th>\n Mon\u2013Sat\/Sun (early until late)
\n Option 24\/7 operation<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Access<\/th>\n Normal access, avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Payment<\/th>\n Cash register, avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n
+<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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The cashier-free convenience store<\/strong> with self-checkout enables round-the-clock access to the tried-and-tested range of convenience products with an extensive selection of fresh foods.<\/p>\n

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Concept<\/th>\n Autonomous, cashier-free store<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Launch<\/th>\n 2019<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Stores<\/th>\n 3<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Opening hours<\/th>\n 24\/7<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Access<\/th>\n avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Payment<\/th>\n avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n
+<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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The vending machine for interior<\/strong> use can be installed in offices, complexes, hospitals or hotels and offers a wide range of beverages, fresh sandwiches, salads, snacks and non-food items.<\/p>\n

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Concept<\/th>\n Smart Fridge<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Launch<\/th>\n 2021<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Stores<\/th>\n 1<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Opening hours<\/th>\n 24\/7<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Access<\/th>\n \u2012<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Payment<\/th>\n avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n
+<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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The shelf with self-checkout<\/strong> offers a selection of convenience products within a main store.<\/p>\n

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Concept<\/th>\n Shop-in-Shop<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Launch<\/th>\n 2020<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Stores<\/th>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Opening hours<\/th>\n Same as for the main store<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Access<\/th>\n Access through main store<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Payment<\/th>\n avec 24\/7 app<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n
+<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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The avec online store<\/strong>: www.avecnow.ch<\/a>. Orders are delivered quickly and by e-bike to the home. <\/p>\n

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Concept<\/th>\n Online store<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Launch<\/th>\n 2020<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Stores<\/th>\n Online shopping<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Opening hours<\/th>\n Mon\u2013Sat (8 am\u201310 pm)<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Access<\/th>\n \u2012<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Payment<\/th>\n Customer account<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n
+<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From small to large, anything is possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even back then, it was clear that this relaunch of avec was only the beginning of a further major development. In addition to the conventional avec sales outlets, Valora also planned adaptations of the concept for locations with very different requirements \u2013 small to very small retail spaces, around the clock opening times and autonomous shopping facilities. The core of the format would always remain the same, but the range could be adapted flexibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This flexibility, combined with the use of new digital solutions for access and payment, also impressed SBB in its tender for more than 250 retail spaces. Valora\u2019s avec concept won out and secured the contract for the strategically important retail spaces at public transport locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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avec will be one of the largest convenience formats in Switzerland with around 300 stores by the end of 2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Also ideal for service station shops<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the avec brand is also suitable for locations other than public transport, various sales outlets at Tamoil service stations were gradually converted to the new avec concept. In summer 2021, Valora also announced that it would take over the operation of 39 Moveri service station shops in Switzerland from 1 January 2022 and potentially add more shops at a later date (see Valora story \u201cThe different types of expansion<\/a>\u201d). By collaborating with Moveri, Valora doubled its network of Swiss service stations to around 100 shops under the avec brand. The first store converted into an avec was opened in Rheinfelden AG shortly before Christmas. As a result of the conversion of k kiosk sales outlets at SBB locations, new locations and the cooperation with Moveri, avec will be one of the largest convenience formats in Switzerland with around 300 stores by the end of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The avec stores at service stations as well as train stations are now considered the benchmark in the industry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The new avec concept launched in 2018 is also very well received by customers. According to a customer survey carried out in 2021 by the consulting and market research company Fuhrer & Hotz (Swiss convenience trade monitor), avec has considerably improved since 2017. The stores at service stations as well as train stations are now considered the benchmark in the industry and their price-performance ratio, shop design and merchandise performance make them particularly attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

avec on a small scale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The avec express shops represent one initial variation of the repositioned avec stores. avec express is an avec convenience store on a smaller scale. avec express focuses on existing locations with smaller k kiosk sales outlets, which Valora is converting into avec stores following the successful SBB tender, as well as entirely new locations. Valora is planning to open a total of 45 outlets in the new format in 2021\/2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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