In order to answer the question of why some small local suppliers (village shops and small, unfilialised or owner-managed grocery stores as well as bakeries and butchers) in rural areas or outside cities are developing better than others, current studies and research results are evaluated synoptically and expert interviews are conducted. At the same time, a case study will be conducted in the district of Unterallgäu in order to develop various fields of action for securing small-scale local supply structures using a concrete example and local companies. The aim of the study is on the one hand to derive generalizable success factors and general fields of action for rural areas and on the other hand to elaborate precise recommendations for action for the Unterallgäu Aktiv GmbH as orientation and guideline to support the small-scale local supply structure.