Twenty brands debuted on the Czech retail market between January and the end of June, the highest ever recorded in the first six months of a year. The biggest categories were Health and Beauty (six brands) and F&B (five brands). All but one of the new brands opened in Prague, the other setting up shop in an outlet centre in the Moravian town of Hatě.
Balmain Hair Couture, Parfums Christian Dior, and Le Labo – the only new entrants in the luxury segment – were the most noteworthy arrivals on the Czech market in the first half of the year. They were joined in the cosmetics section by Sister’s Aroma from Ukraine and Spa Ceylon from Sri Lanka.
“We can confirm that we remain in talks with several luxury and premium cosmetics brands looking to enter the Czech market,” said Jan Kotrbáček, Partner and Head of Retail Agency CEE at Cushman & Wakefield. “This trend suggests that the Czech Republic is emerging as an increasingly attractive proposition for luxury brands, which see expanding potential here.”
F&B brands anticipated
F&B chains opening here were Slovak fast food company Amerikanos, Ukraine’s fine-dining Nai, The Box Donut from Hungary, Turkish confectioner Malatya Pazari, and bubble tea vendor Makamaka, which replaced Taiwan’s Chatime on the local market.
The most eagerly awaited F&B launch this year is undeniably the US fast food brand Five Guys, which is expected to open its first branch in the newly opened Máj shopping centre on Národní Avenue in Prague. Its counterpoint, offering a range of healthy meals and salads, will be dean&david, which will also be setting up its first location in the Máj shopping centre, but will face competition later this year from SKA, the Georgia-based healthy snack chain operating out of the Quadrio shopping centre next door. Before that, SKA is opening its first branch in Kaprova Street in Prague.
“The arrival of new F&B concepts, generally from neighbouring countries, proves how diversified and dynamic the Czech market is. Consumers are looking for increasingly diverse dining experiences,” says Jan Kotrbáček. “As eating habits change and demand for healthy, high-quality food increases, we foresee even more innovative and specialised concepts appearing in the near future.”
Table 1: Retail brands entering the Czech Republic in the first half of 2024
Other sectors
Fashion brands have been underrepresented so far. Premium Italian fashion brand Bikkembergs and France’s Danyberd have now entered the Czech market.
In the Accessories sector, Eyerim – the Slovak eyewear brand – has opened its first shop in Karlín. In Electronics, there are two new brands: MIA Dynamics (American electric scooters) and DJI, which opened its first flagship DJI drone shop in Masaryčka. IEM Spa, the Slovak beauty clinic, has also opened its first branch in this office development.
“The presence of technology brands such as DJI and MIA Dynamics is a sign that the Czech market has potential even in the realm of high-tech,” adds Jan Kotrbáček. “As interest in new technologies and innovation grows, we expect to see these segments continue to expand in the coming years.”
In the Leisure and Entertainment segment, Europa Experience – part of a network of visitor centres offering young people and adults a unique insight into the workings of the European Union – opened in Palác Dunaj in Prague. Westfield Chodov now has a branch of the TUI travel agency. Furniture is represented by Spain’s Kave Home, bathroom accessories by the premium Austrian brand Vossen.
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