Retail market and trade in Czechia - statistics & facts
The retail market and trade in Czechia have been subject to severe economic turbulence in recent years. After an economic downturn in 2009 and 2012, retail sales grew consistently up to 2020, when they plummeted due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Following a short-lived recovery, retail sales began dropping again as of the second half of 2021. Even the resilient and thriving e-commerce industry saw its first turnover decline in Czech history after a sharp increase in the previous years.
Since 2022, the grocery sector has been plagued by particularly high inflation numbers. In November of that year, food inflation reached 26 percent, after which it began slowly decreasing. That meant the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased the most out of any other products, including commodities such as energy, fuel, or transportation. These figures were also significantly above the food inflation rate in the European Union.
Grocery retail
Supermarkets are the heart of grocery retail in Czechia. They consistently rank among the chains with the highest revenues. All major retail chains are owned by foreign investors, mainly from Germany. Stores of domestic chains COOP, Družstvo CBA, and Hruška, on the other hand, are the most numerous in Czechia, with COOP having around 2,500 stores around the country.Since 2022, the grocery sector has been plagued by particularly high inflation numbers. In November of that year, food inflation reached 26 percent, after which it began slowly decreasing. That meant the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased the most out of any other products, including commodities such as energy, fuel, or transportation. These figures were also significantly above the food inflation rate in the European Union.
