This is the highest number in the last three years despite the coronavirus crisis.
The Czech retail market and physical retail segment remain attractive for retail brands, as the arrival of 38 new international brands last year confirms: this is the highest number in the last three years.
This means a 52% year-on-year increase over the 25 new brands arriving in 2020.
“Physical shopping remains an important part of the retail environment despite all the problems and changes that the coronavirus crisis has brought. Czechia is still the key market for the entry of international brands into the Central and Eastern European region – the local purchasing power has been consistently high, and retailers’ long-term plans count on international visitors returning in similar numbers as before,” said Jan Kotrbáček, Partner & Head of CEE Retail Agency team, Cushman & Wakefield.
Fashion first and foremost
The fashion segment – clothes, accessories, and shoes – accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the retail market, which is also why it accounts for most new arrivals on the Czech market.
A total of 18 fashion brands across all segments came to the country last year: in the luxury segment, Versace opened in Pařížská Street; premium brands include German Anson’s in the Westfield Chodov shopping centre and Manuel Ritz in the Myslbek shopping gallery (both focusing on men’s fashion); Falconeri, Italian purveyors of cashmere goods opened in Westfield Chodov, Hungarian Sugarbird in the Černá Růže passage, and German Hiltl in the Premium Outlet Prague Airport.
Polish Halfprice multibrand outlet opened its first shop selling discounted premium goods in Galerie Harfa. Primark, Modivo, Heavy Tools, Dedoles and others are targeting the mass market.
The range of accessories has grown wider thanks to the arrival of German opticians Fielmann: the brand opened a shop in the Westfield Chodov shopping centre and is planning to launch its next and flagship high-street store at Na Příkopě. Handbags and shawls are available from MOA, a French brand’s new shop in Westfield Chodov, and from Slovak Cube in the Nový Smíchov shopping centre.
Aldo has joined the ranks of shoe retailers by reopening its store in Westfield Chodov and Polish eObuv.cz opened a shop in the Nový Smíchov shopping centre, combining online shopping with a physical store.
Leisure and food
The leisure and food segment has been severely hit by the anti-pandemic measures over the past two years and will need more time to recover.
Despite that, new concepts are entering the market: for example, Slovak Cinemax opened in the Olympia in Olomouc. We are seeing a boom among fitness concepts – German Clever Fit opened in the Kotva department store, British OneGym in the Parkview office building in Prague’s Pankrác quarter, and we expect more brands in this segment to arrive this year.
Leopark, Polish children park operator brings entertainment for children in Centrum Černý Most, and Majaland, the largest indoor entertainment park in the Czech Republic operated by Belgian Plopsa, opened at the Premium Outlet Prague Airport.
In the Food & Beverage segment, Polish Dobro & Dobro Cafe chain opened in Purkyňova Street, an El Gaucho steakhouse opened in Dušní, French bakers Aux Merveilleux de Fred opened in Revoluční, the Japanese dessert shop Motiko opened in Nový Smíchov, and the British My Cookie Dough is now present in Westfield Chodov.
Belgian Nawhal’s bistro opened in Prostějov. Mere, a Russian discount chain, has also arrived on the market with two stores in Příbram and Most.
Brands target primarily Prague’s shopping centres
As was the case in the past, fashion brands accounted for the majority of the newcomers (12 clothes retailers, five accessories and shoe retailers, and one sports clothes retailer), followed by food concepts (seven brands). The household equipment and electronics segment has also grown because people spent more time at home during the coronavirus crisis.
New market arrivals in this segment include Swedish Asko electrical appliances, Russian textiles retailer Cozy Home, Polish Klimas Wkręt-met hardware stores, American Sonos premium audio equipment, and YellowKorner, an art shop from France.
The greatest number of brands and concepts came to the country from Poland (7), followed by Germany (4), Italy (4), and the UK (3). Most brands opened their first shops in Prague (32), with others in Brno and Karlovy Vary.
The highest number of shops (22) opened in shopping centres, with the most popular destinations for new brand arrivals being Westfield Chodov (6) and Nový Smíchov (4).
Eleven brands opened in high street locations in cities, two in office schemes, two in outlets, and one in a retail park.
