Sales Director Europe

Billa supermarket closes Czech e-shop: shifts focus to store expansion. Popular supermarket chain Billa will end online grocery sales in January 2026 as it prioritizes cooperation with courier services and store upgrades. Billa, one of the Czech Republic's largest supermarket chains, has announced it will close its e-shop at the end of January 2026, citing financial losses and greater efficiency through courier partnerships. The decision affects online orders in Prague, Brno, and surrounding areas, where the e-shop currently serves around 1.5 million households. The move follows a strategic review of Billa's digital operations and delivery model. The company concluded that operating its own online platform required significant investment in technology, logistics, and staff, which outweighed the benefits. "Investments in technology and expanding delivery points were so high that it is more effective to distribute goods via courier services," said Billa spokeswoman Dana Bratánková. She added that the e-shop will continue operating normally until its official closure. Afterwards, Billa will work with Wolt and Foodora to serve customers. E-shop losses and financial pressures. Billa launched its pilot e-shop in spring 2023 with ambitious plans to expand online grocery sales nationwide, aiming to compete with major Czech e-grocers like Košík.cz and Rohlík.cz. The expansion, however, proved costly and contributed to financial losses. According to Bratánková, Billa posted a loss of nearly CZK 63 million in 2023, largely driven by the e-shop. The company expects that the losses related to the platform will deepen in the following year. The decision to close the e-shop also reflects broader challenges in balancing online retail and operational costs. "While the e-shop allowed us to reach 1.5 million households, partnering with courier services expands our reach to 2.5 million," Bratánková noted. She emphasized that the shift is aimed at maximizing efficiency and ensuring sustainable growth across the company's operations. Industry analysts say Billa's move mirrors a wider trend among Czech retailers, who are increasingly weighing the costs of in-house digital operations against outsourcing delivery to third-party services. Other supermarket chains, including Penny and Globus, also rely on courier partnerships to extend online service coverage. Alongside the e-shop closure, Billa is intensifying investments in its physical stores. The company plans to invest nearly CZK 2.8 billion CZK in 2026, slightly higher than the CZK 2.5 billion spent in 2025, to open new stores and modernize existing locations. This will include 15 new store openings and renovations of 40 existing outlets next year. Courier delivery as the future of online groceries. Following the closure, customers can continue to order Billa products through Wolt, Foodora, and potentially other logistics partners in the future. Orders will be placed via the partners' apps, though the product range may be smaller than that offered previously via Billa's in-house platform. Billa's decision underscores the challenges facing traditional supermarket chains in adapting to e-commerce. The shift is expected to allow the company to serve a larger number of households more efficiently, while keeping operational costs manageable.

Rohlík's financial results for the year ending in April show total revenues exceeding €1.1 billion and a gross profit of €389 million. The company's valuation has reached over €2 billion, making it a double unicorn. Founder Tomáš Čupr highlighted a previous investment of €1.65 billion and a new partnership with Amazon as factors in the increased valuation. The company undergoes independent valuation twice a year.

The Czech tech ecosystem has emerged as a dynamic and increasingly influential force in the national economy. According to the Smart Market Report 2025, Czech startups contribute over 5% to the country’s GDP and employ more than 150,000 people. With deep roots in engineering and a growing culture of innovation, the Czech Republic is gaining recognition as a key tech hub in Central Europe. Prague remains the epicentre of activity, home to the majority of startups, while Brno and Ostrava are fast establishing themselves as secondary innovation centres. A robust network of incubators, accelerators, and public programs is helping to fuel local growth and support international expansion