39 new brands entered the Czech retail market last year, the most in the past ten years. More than a third of them belong to the food, beverage and grocery sector, with 14 such brands entering the Czech Republic. The fashion sector followed with nine brands. By country of origin, Italy was the most represented with eight brands, five came from Slovakia and four from France. This is according to information on the website of the real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield, which has been monitoring the market from this perspective for ten years.
The most important brands that entered the Czech Republic last year include Victoria’s Secret, Popeyes, Signorvino, Rossopomodoro and Zadig & Voltaire, Cushman & Wakefield said. According to Jan Kotrbáček, head of its retail leasing team for Central and Eastern Europe, the Czech market, and Prague in particular, remains the main gateway to Central and Eastern Europe for retail brands.
“The presence of a large number of international companies is, among other things, the result of the long-term growing purchasing power of the Czech population and the development of a business environment in which companies thrive. A very important factor for the entry of international brands is the fact that the Czech Republic, and Prague in particular, is also a very important European and global tourist destination,” Kotrbáček added. Especially in the centre of Prague and major shopping centres, tourists form a very important part of the clientele, he pointed out. Thus, 33 brands headed to Prague last year, Brno and Ostrava welcomed two, Hata and Hradec Králové one each.
According to Kotrbáček, this year, new and more dominant concepts of brands that are already present in the Czech Republic are being prepared for the Czech market. “We also expect new brands to arrive, of which I can now mention, for example, the upcoming opening of Five Guys, another fast food chain in the centre of Prague,” he added.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, the Czech market saw two names in particular, namely the American lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret, which opened its first local store in Prague’s Westfield Chodov shopping centre in May, and the American fast food chain Popeyes, which has been operating on Prague’s Wenceslas Square since the beginning of November.
“The very popular Aperol Spritz Terrace opened in Prague’s Mánes, the Holy Pasta concept opened in Manifesto Market, The Alley tea shop opened in Na Příkopě Street, and Italian concepts Rossopomodoro (Palladium) and Signorvino (Westfield Chodov) opened in shopping centres,” the consultancy firm said.
“The luxury goods segment was expanded by the Italian winter clothing brand MooRER in Prague’s Maiselova Street and the French fashion brand Zadig & Voltaire in Široká Street. “The world-famous shoe brand Jimmy Choo has moved to Pařížská 21 after a year-long absence of a full-fledged retail store,” Cushman & Wakefield said.
It also named the arrival of the Bottega Prosecco Bar and Natoo brands at Prague’s airport and main railway station. Food retailer Billa has started opening small-format Viva Billa stores at petrol stations, while wholesaler Makro is targeting visitors to Prague city centre and office areas with its Bonveno stores. Toblerone chocolate confectionery is now sold in a specialised shop in Fashion Arena Prague Outlet.
Source: Cushman & Wakefield and CTK
