Denmark's first emergency supermarkets

Herbert Saurugg, saurugg.net

Source: via.ritzau.dk (Danish)

While the discussion about crisis preparedness and resilient infrastructure is growing in Central Europe, Denmark is taking a concrete step further: in June 2026 the Salling Group, the largest retailer in Northern Europe, equipped the first three of its so-called “beredskabsbutikker” (emergency supply shops) with powerful emergency power systems. These sites are to stay open even during a widespread power cut and thus secure the basic supply of food and essential goods.

• At the beginning of 2026, Bornholm was hit by an extensive power cut that challenged the entire island. The Netto branch in Rønne could stay open in a similar event.
• Technical equipment: The emergency generators secure refrigeration, lighting, computer systems and all other electricity-dependent infrastructure in the shops.
• Overall plan: Last year the Salling Group designated 51 shops and department stores nationwide as “beredskabsbutikker”, which are to operate self-sufficiently (without electricity or internet) for at least 48 hours in crisis situations.
• Timetable: The original deadline was 2028; the aim now is for all 51 emergency shops to be operational by the end of 2027.
• Coverage: The beredskabsbutikker are distributed across the country so that a good 80% of the population can reach one within a maximum of 50 kilometres.
• Offline payments: An important element is the ability to pay offline by card. This is already possible in all Danish Salling Group shops through extended cooperation with Nets.

In Denmark, the population is explicitly encouraged to be able to supply themselves for at least three days in a crisis – for example during a power cut, extreme weather or other disruptions. Retailers play a key role here, because they provide basic supplies in everyday life. When central infrastructure such as the power grid fails, supermarkets that can operate locally on emergency power can narrow the supply gap – especially for households that do not have sufficient stocks.

Context for Austria and Germany

In the German-speaking countries, too, critical infrastructure and local resilience are gaining in importance – driven by:

• Increasing extreme weather events
• Geopolitical risks and supply chain disruptions
• Possible stress situations in the power grid due to high loads and volatile feed-in

The Danish initiative shows how food retail can combine technical measures (emergency power) with organisational planning (selected emergency sites). Three pilot sites are a typical first step; if successful, further branches can be retrofitted.

What municipalities and businesses can learn

• Prioritisation: Not every branch can be equipped with emergency power straight away. A selection of strategically important sites (e.g. in rural regions or with high customer footfall) makes sense.
• Combining technology and organisation: Emergency power alone is not enough. Clear processes for crises are also needed (staff, logistics, communication).
• Integration into regional crisis plans: Supermarkets with emergency power could be integrated into municipal or regional emergency plans – for example as local distribution points for critical goods.

Conclusion

With its “beredskabsbutikker”, the Salling Group shows how retail can actively contribute to societal resilience. For Austria and Germany this is a practical example that can be transferred to other critical infrastructure: from technical retrofitting through organisational preparation to integration into higher-level crisis structures.

This article first appeared in German on saurugg.net – with kind permission of Herbert Saurugg. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, Herbert Saurugg. Translated from German by GAIA.
Cover image: automatic6517 / Pixabay