An emergency neighborhood supermarket that always has toilet paper, rice and crispbread in stock: it’s happening in Denmark

The Danish Salling Group has announced plans to establish 51 emergency supermarkets across Denmark by 2028. These facilities are designed to remain operational during major power outages or cyberattacks by utilizing backup generators and offline payment systems that function without internet access. Instead of a full product range, these stores will carry a strictly limited selection of approximately fifty essential items, including long-life food, hygiene products, and batteries, to ensure public access to necessities during crises.

This initiative stems from Denmark's updated national resilience strategy, which emphasizes societal preparedness against hybrid threats. While the Netherlands currently lacks such specific infrastructure, the government is developing a National Crisis Plan for Food Security. Discussions are underway regarding potential legal requirements for supermarkets to maintain strategic buffers of essential goods. Industry representatives in the Netherlands are supportive but have highlighted the significant logistical challenges and costs associated with creating such reserves.