The three most aggressive discount grocery chains are continuing to expand their networks in towns of up to 50,000 residents that have largely avoided the country’s retail toom until now. Idnes.cz reports that towns like Karviná, Česká Lípa, Most, Trutnov are now being scoured for store location opporturunities, and that it’s not just by grocery chains. Drugstore, electronics store, and dicsount fashion retailers are also on the lookout. “Retail has the lowest representation in areas like Aš, Kraslice, Králíky, Broumov, Rumburk and Varnsdorf,” Lukáš Puchrik told Idnes. Penny Market recently opened its 380th store in the country and its general director claims the store will have 400 by the end of 2020. Lidl currently has 247 Czech stores but will open 15 during the course of 2019 and 2020. Billa will add 12 to its current network of 224 stores by the end of 2019.
