24SJU Snabbköp, Sweden
Company overview
24Seven (24SJU) is a Swedish convenience retail network built on a simple but bold belief: local stores should not disappear simply because the system around them was designed for someone else.
Across much of the world, convenience retail has evolved into an industry built for large chains and high volumes, leaving smaller community stores at a disadvantage. Technology systems, supplier agreements and operating models increasingly reward scale, while small stores carry the same costs without the same advantages.
24Seven was created to change that balance.
Today the network includes 134+ operating stores across Sweden, supported by a central team and a fully integrated retail platform developed internally by the company. More than 75,000 hours of development have been invested in building the ERP and data infrastructure that connects the entire ecosystem. But main reason is to cut costs for the store owner.
The platform links store technology, purchasing systems, logistics coordination and operational data into one environment designed specifically for small community retail. We also design and deploy store hardware, equipment and modular store solutions, allowing locations to be established even in places where traditional retail models would not be viable. And that a community of old people can handle the system for takeing care of the store. So the service can be were people live.
Each 24Seven location functions as both a convenience store and a local service hub, providing everyday goods and services that help keep communities connected.
Our philosophy is simple: it should be easy to do the right thing.
By redesigning the infrastructure behind the small store, we allow operators to focus on serving their customers while building sustainable local businesses.
Set the Scene
What makes 24Seven different is not a single innovation. It is the decision to take responsibility for everything the small community store depends on.
Instead of leaving store operators to navigate fragmented systems, suppliers and decisions on their own, we built a model where the entire operation is supported by one connected ecosystem.
Pricing is guided by data to ensure the store is perceived as fair and competitive. Assortments are continuously optimized based on real-time sales across the network. Inventory, campaigns and store setup are managed through automated systems that provide direct feedback on what is working and what is missing.
Store size, layout and service offering are not guesswork. They are defined using data on local demand, population and service needs. Security systems, access control and 24/7 monitoring are fully integrated, giving operators full confidence in running unmanned or hybrid stores.
The goal is simple but powerful: to create a system where anyone can operate a store successfully, and where technology and data make it easy to do the right thing.
Because when the system works, the store survives and so does the community.
That’s Smart!
Innovation Overview
24Seven’s innovation is built around a single principle: the small community store must be able to survive.
In many parts of Sweden, small stores disappeared not because demand was gone, but because operating them had become too complex and too expensive. For a store serving a community of just a few hundred people, every cost becomes existential.
Instead of trying to fix individual parts of the problem, 24Seven reversed the process. We started with the smallest possible store scenario and asked: what would it take for this store to be profitable?
From that point, every detail was rebuilt.
We developed a fully integrated system where technology, data, logistics and store design work together to support the operator. Real-time data from across the network guides assortment, pricing and decision-making, while automated systems reduce the time required to run the store.
Headquarters carries the complexity. Technology, systems and infrastructure are centrally managed, and store operators are only charged based on a percentage of their revenue—removing the burden of fixed technical costs.
At the same time, 24Seven manages supplier relationships, purchasing and distribution, ensuring that each store receives the right products at the right conditions.
The result is a model where operating a store becomes simpler, more accurate and economically sustainable even in the smallest communities.
Instead of asking small stores to adapt to the system, we rebuilt the system so small stores can succeed.
Challenge & Opportunity
The challenge was not hidden. It was visible in plain sight.
Since the late 1980s, more than 4,000 local stores have disappeared in Sweden alone. Not because customers stopped needing them, but because operating conditions had quietly become unsustainable.
Store owners were left alone to make critical decisions without real support—what to stock, how to price, how to invest, how to survive.
Most decisions were based on feelings rather than reliable data. At the same time, every external dependency added pressure. Technology providers, payment systems, suppliers and logistics structures were all designed for larger players, leaving small stores with higher costs and weaker negotiating power.
No single actor was responsible for solving this. Each part of the system functioned on its own, but no one addressed the whole.
That was the real challenge.
And the opportunity.
To take responsibility for the entire system—so that small community stores would no longer have to solve an impossible equation on their own. -That’s Smart!
Partnerships & Ecosystem Collaboration
One of the early realizations in building the 24Seven model was that the existing partner ecosystem was not designed for small community retail.
Most technology providers, payment systems and retail infrastructure companies operate with cost structures and business models built around large chains. This made it difficult to find partners willing—or able—to support a fundamentally different approach.
As a result, 24Seven was forced to take a leading role in building the system ourselves.
Where relevant, we have partnered with emerging or flexible actors, such as new payment providers entering the market as traditional models evolved. However, the majority of the platform, infrastructure and operational model has been developed internally to ensure it meets the economic realities of small community stores.
Over time, this has allowed us to build our own ecosystem.
Today, 24Seven works directly with producers, suppliers and logistics partners, focusing only on what creates real value for the store operator.
Our guiding principle is simple: when the store becomes economically strong, the entire system becomes sustainable.
Setup & Early Experiments
24Seven did not begin with technology. It began with observation.
To understand small community stores, we went directly to the source. We traveled across rural areas, met hundreds of store owners and customers, and held more than 100 meetings with suppliers, payment providers and system vendors.
At the same time, we built our own dataset. Thousands of images were captured of store assortments, what sold, what did not, and how products were presented. Combined with interviews and cost analysis, this created a clear picture of how small stores actually operate.
One conclusion stood out: the traditional model, with multiple vendors and systems was too complex and too expensive.
To test a new approach, we built our own pilot store. A 48 sqm location in a community of 660 residents was designed entirely from our research.
The result was clear. With the right system, the model could work and that became the foundation for everything that followed.
Digital & Data Enablement
In the 24Seven model, technology and data are not support functions they are the operating system.
From the beginning, we built a connected platform where every store contributes to and benefits from shared intelligence. Real-time data flows across the network, continuously analyzing sales patterns, product performance and customer behavior.
This data is actively used. It guides assortment decisions, highlights missing products and supports pricing strategies that keep stores competitive while protecting margins. Store operators receive clear, data-driven guidance tailored to their specific location.
Our internally developed ERP system, supported by proprietary AI infrastructure, transforms complex information into simple, actionable insights. Through mobile tools and shared dashboards, both operators and headquarters can monitor performance, adjust campaigns and respond instantly.
The system also improves supply chain visibility, aligning purchasing and distribution with real demand.
Because when data is used correctly, it makes it easier to do the right thing.
Scaling the Innovation
Scaling the 24Seven model required more than growth—it required structure.
After validating the concept in early pilot stores, we began standardizing every element that drives performance. Using real operational data, we defined clear frameworks for assortment, pricing, store layout and service level, allowing new stores to start from proven conditions rather than trial and error.
Training became a critical part of scaling. We developed structured onboarding and operational programs to ensure that store operators could quickly understand how to use the system and run their stores efficiently.
At the same time, headquarters took responsibility for complexity. Technology, purchasing, logistics, store design and hardware sourcing are centrally managed, allowing each new store to connect to a fully functional ecosystem from day one.
The model has now expanded to 134 stores in Sweden and 5 stores in Norway, with a Finnish office opening shortly to support continued international growth.
Operational Transformation
The 24Seven model has fundamentally changed how small community stores operate on a daily basis.
Traditional small stores often struggle with high waste, inefficient investments and time-consuming manual work. Without reliable data, decisions around assortment, store layout and purchasing are often based on guesswork.
With 24Seven, this has been replaced by precision.
Stores are guided on exactly which products to stock, where to place them and how to create effective product combinations that increase basket size. Inventory is minimized, reducing waste and eliminating unnecessary investments in space, equipment and stock.
Operational time has been reduced to approximately 25% of traditional store work, while opening hours have increased by up to 140%, allowing stores to generate more revenue with less effort.
At the same time, purchasing prices are on average 12.9% better than independent retailers, supported by optimized supply chains and local logistics.
The result is clear: store operators work less, earn more and run significantly more efficient businesses.
Setbacks & Pivots
Building 24Seven has been a continuous process of challenges, learning and adaptation.
One of the most significant pivots came when we realized that our initial development team could not deliver the depth required to match the vision. Replacing the team meant abandoning large parts of the system and starting over—an expensive but necessary decision.
Hardware development presented similar setbacks. Components that initially seemed sufficient failed under real conditions and had to be reworked or replaced.
We also underestimated the complexity of building a system that operates continuously. Unlike traditional retail environments that reset overnight, our stores run 24/7, requiring stability at all times.
New challenges continue to emerge as the system evolves.
But with a clear vision, challenges become part of the process rather than obstacles.
Each setback has strengthened the model, resulting in a system built on experience, resilience and a deep understanding of real-world retail conditions.
Impact & Results
The 24Seven model has delivered measurable results across financial, operational and societal dimensions.
Store operations have become significantly more efficient. Daily workload has been reduced to approximately 25% of traditional store operations, while opening hours have increased by up to 140%, enabling higher revenue with less manual effort.
Data-driven decision-making has reduced waste and improved accuracy. Traditional small stores can experience up to 20% shrinkage due to inefficient assortments, while 24Seven stores operate with highly optimized product selection and minimal excess inventory.
Purchasing conditions have improved substantially. Through centralized negotiations and a shortened supply chain, stores achieve approximately 12% better purchasing prices, while 24Seven’s control over imports and infrastructure allows store investments to be 2–3 times more cost-efficient, accelerating return on investment.
The model has also attracted strong supplier confidence. Producers and suppliers now actively seek collaboration with 24Seven.
At the same time, the headquarters operates as a profitable and growing entity, enabling continuous reinvestment into technology, support and expansion of the network.
Beyond financial impact, the model reduces travel needs, strengthens local economies and helps communities regain essential services.
Scalability & Future Potential
The 24Seven model is designed to scale beyond traditional convenience retail.
With 134 stores in Sweden and continued expansion underway, the model has proven its ability to grow within one market. The concept has been successfully replicated in Norway, with additional stores in development, and new operations are being prepared in Finland and Denmark.
Because the system simplifies operations and improves profitability, store operators are increasingly expanding to manage multiple locations.
The platform also enables new applications beyond stores, including unmanned retail, workplace vending and future last-mile solutions.
At its core, 24Seven is not limited to selling products.
It is a scalable system for making local commerce accessible, efficient and sustainable—wherever people live.
