The “Get & Go Express” convenience stores aren’t stores so much as giant vending machines – only done smarter with new technology. All shopping takes place on the outer surface of the box like stores (roughly the foot print of two 40ft shipping containers) from an array of smaller vending machines. The store takes up less space because it doesn’t have to make room for people between the shelves. It also cuts out salaries, which is, according to the article above, 40% of the cost of regular convenience stores.
Was this just inevitable or is it physical retail reaching out for the same economies of scale that online retail get naturally?