The Czech retail market once again proved its appeal to retail brands, with 38 new arrivals last year. That is the same figure as in 2021 when the influx of 38 new brands was partly the result of the postponement of some entries due to the pandemic.
These numbers represent a roughly 50% increase in comparison to 2019 (22 brands) and 2020 (25 brands).
Fashion and household goods
A significant milestone for the Czech market last year was the opening of two luxury fashion boutiques by Balenciaga and Chanel on Prague’s Pařížská street.
The fashion segment is well represented as usual, whether in terms of clothing brands (e.g. Maje, Sandro and Jacadi Paris this year), accessories and jewellery (Messika, Teilor), footwear (Buzz 1), or fashionable sportswear (JOTT, Sport Vision 2).
The furniture, household goods and electronics segment also featured prominently last year (eleven brands).
Czechia attracted retailers dealing in furniture, such as Minotti and Stosa Cucine (kitchens), in mattresses, e.g. Dorelan and Materasso, HP in the field of electronics, Home&You (re-entry) and TecTake in household goods, and Tefal in kitchen equipment.
Notable mentions in other segments include the opening of the first Czech LEGO store, and in the food and beverage segment the Cappuccineria café and the House of Julius Meinl delicatessen.
French and Italian brands predominate
As in previous years, the vast majority of the brands chose Prague for their first Czech store – with sixteen opened in shopping centres and fourteen on the capital’s high streets.
Six stores can also be found in office buildings, where the openings include not only several showrooms of premium furniture retailers, but also a fitness centre and a café on account of their target clientele.
Jan Kotrbáček, Partner and Head of the CEE Retail Agency team, Cushman & Wakefield:
“The American fast food chain Popeyes will be opening its first restaurant in the Czech Republic, and its arrival on our market will be the biggest entry of an F&B player since 2017, when Pizza Hut reopened here. The launch of the first restaurant of the Italian chain Rossopomodoro in the Palladium shopping centre and the entry of the Italian wine&food concept Signorvino will also be major events.”
