Retail market in Czechia - statistics & facts
The retail trade in Czechia has shown consistent growth over the past two decades, reaching a revenue of over 1.5 trillion Czech koruna as of 2023. This upward trend shows the country's expanding consumer market and economic development, despite facing challenges such as the global financial crisis and the pandemic. The sector is dominated by international chains, with Lidl leading the pack. Other major players include Kaufland and the Czech retail chain Albert, each with revenues exceeding 70 billion euros in 2023. Despite growth in overall retail revenue, the average per capita purchasing power remains below the European average.
The country’s retail industry is expected to maintain steady growth, supported by easing inflation and recovering consumer confidence. Continued investment in digital infrastructure and the expansion of e-commerce channels may further reshape retail operations.
Food inflation has eased
The country’s grocery retail market grew by 2.2 percent in volume in 2024, outpacing the European average of 0.2 percent. This is further reflected in the rise in retail sales of food, beverages, and tobacco in non-specialized stores, which reached over 32 billion Czech koruna at the end of 2024. As the grocery market expands, inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages has eased, decreasing to 4.1 percent in April 2025. The rate had been around 26 percent in late 2022, showing a gradual return to more stable price levels.Employment patterns shift
As of the first quarter of 2025, the total shopping center area in Czechia reached approximately 2.58 million square meters, with Prague holding the largest share. Centrum Chodov, located in the capital, dominates the landscape as the largest shopping center, featuring 310 stores. Growth in the market is occurring alongside shifts in the sector’s employment. While the number of employees in the retail industry reached a peak of nearly 644,000 in 1997. This dropped to just above 550,000, the lowest figure recorded since 1994. This shift in employment patterns reflects changing dynamics in the retail industry, potentially influenced by factors such as increased automation and the adoption of e-commerce.Leading players in e-commerce
E-commerce revenue in Czechia reached 194 billion Czech koruna in 2024, marking a slight recovery after two consecutive years of decline. This figure, while an improvement from 2023, still falls short of the all-time high achieved in 2021. Alza.cz stands out as the leader in the country’s e-commerce, generating nearly 1.5 million U.S. dollars in revenue as of 2024, with rohlik.cz, a grocery retailer, and shein.com, a clothing and apparel e-shop following. The popularity of these retailers was largely driven by online shoppers, with almost 60 percent in Czechia tempted by free delivery as the main motivation for making purchases in the third quarter of 2024.The country’s retail industry is expected to maintain steady growth, supported by easing inflation and recovering consumer confidence. Continued investment in digital infrastructure and the expansion of e-commerce channels may further reshape retail operations.
