Baker Steinecke in Braunschweig: Only card payments allowed!

Baker Steinecke in Braunschweig: Only card payments allowed!

The Steinecke bakery in Braunschweig is causing a stir among its customers: Since July 1, 2025, the popular branch on Schleinitzstrasse has no longer accepted cash. This makes it one of only four nationwide that is testing this cashless payment system. The change could be particularly important for the many students at the nearby TU Braunschweig. The location is well frequented and known for its delicious baked goods.

Now it’s “Bye-bye cash, hello card” – that’s what it says on the signs informing customers of the new payment method. You can only pay for your purchase with a debit card, credit card or smartphone. To make the switch easier for customers, Steinecke also offers a reloadable credit card without storing personal data. This card is particularly well received because it allows discounts and offers additional flexibility.

Test run with foresight

The test run should last at least four weeks to check the acceptance of cashless payments. “We want to find out how well our customers cope with this new form of payment,” explains a spokesman for the bakery. The aim is to make checkout processes simpler and faster, especially during the evening billing period. But customer feedback is crucial. Some time ago, the Göing bakery in Hanover tested a similar concept, but encountered customer requests and then switched back to cash payments.

The Steinecke bakery belongs to the group of large bakeries with more than 500 branches in eastern and northern Germany. In addition to the location in Braunschweig, branches in Berlin, Leipzig and Hanover are also taking part in the test. Given the popularity of the company among students, we hope for positive feedback and increased interest in cashless payments, which are also becoming increasingly popular in Germany.

Cashless payments are trending

The numbers speak for themselves: in 2023, non-cash payments amounting to 63.6 trillion euros were made in Germany. This shows that cashless payments are very popular in this country. Non-cash payment transactions have grown significantly within the EU, particularly in Germany, and card payments, both debit and credit cards, are becoming increasingly popular. The number of debit cards issued rose to around 143.3 million by the end of 2023.

This trend towards cashless payment methods is also recognized by many companies. Payment by card is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the catering and retail sectors, and the checkout experience needs to be optimized. Steinecke could hit the nerve of the times with the change - will customers remain loyal to the series of cashless payments?

It remains exciting to see how Steinecke's test ultimately turns out. The results after the test run will show whether the company has shown a good hand.

For more information on the latest developments in the financial world and cashless payment behavior, take a look Statista, which provide comprehensive data.

In the meantime, the community remains excited to hear feedback from bakery customers - and perhaps other branches in Germany will soon be willing to take this step.

For more details on this transition, visit the articles on News38 and T Online.