The TN.cz editorial staff contacted a total of six large retail chains to find out what news they are preparing for Czech customers – Albert, Globus, Bill, Lidl, Kaufland and Tesco. Penny Market boasted of its plans.
Tesco
The chain plans to open new stores this year, specifically two that have a clear start date – a supermarket will open in Jesenice on June 30, and a hypermarket in Kutná Hora on September 30.
“Tesco also includes the Žabka store network, which plans to open dozens of stores this year and has opened six so far this year. Larger expansion is hampered by a lack of vacant space. Žabka offers a reward of 30,000 crowns for recommending suitable premises,” said Tesco spokesman Václav Koukolíček. He pointed out that people in Žabka can also pick up shipments or pay for vouchers.
Kaufland
Kaufland said that in addition to building brand new branches, it also counts on the modernization of existing stores. “In the business year 2021 (March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022) we plan to open five new stores, for example Olomouc or České Budějovice. We are also modernizing 10 of our existing stores – for example in Třeboň, Trutnov and Ostrava. We also continue to develop These include self-service cash registers as well as K-Scan scanners and mobile applications, which allow customers to scan the goods themselves, put them in their bag and then pay at the self-service cash register, “said Kaufland spokeswoman Renata Maierl. The chain is also preparing a new range of goods not only for vegans and vegetarians.
Globus
Aneta Turnovská, a spokeswoman for Globus, was vague. “We plan to expand with hypermarket units. In our selected locations we prepare projects and communicate intensively with local governments. The construction of such a large hypermarket as Globus requires a large space and building a very precise background for our own production – bakery, confectionery, butcher “As for the small formats we call Fresh, we have our plans there as well,” she said.
Lidl
On the contrary, he was very accommodating in revealing his future plans to Lidl. He recently opened new stores, for example in Slavkov u Brna or Uničov. On Monday, May 17, a new store in Kladno – Rozdělov will open its gates for the first time.
“During the first half of this year, we also expect to open a new store in Jihlava, Svitavy, two locations in Prague (Dejvice, Uhříněves) and Dobruška. And during the summer we plan to open an atypical store in Brno in OD Centrum,” calculates chain spokesman Tomáš Myler . During the summer months, Lidl also plans to open new stores in Poděbrady and Ostrava (U Stadióna). Another Ostrava store should also open in the autumn, in Nad Porubkou Street.
“During the second half of this year, customers can also look forward to new stores in Štětí, Milovice, Kravaře, České Budějovice or Studénka, for example,” said Myler.
Penny
Penny also has big plans. “Počátky, Jindřichův Hradec, Volary, Kolín, Prague or Děčín. These are some of the cities where Penny has started building new stores. It continues to expand its network,” the company wrote in a recent press release.
For example, the market in Jindřichův Hradec is growing in close proximity to the existing store. And when it opens, the now functioning store will end. “We plan to open an atypical store in Prague Kobylisy this year – on the site of the former Ládví cinema,” says Penny spokesman Tomáš Kubík. However, he did not disclose specific dates. Penny is also expanding its network of charging stations for electric vehicles at its stores. The above-mentioned Kaufland has a similar ambition.
Billa
Even this chain does not want to reveal plans for the future too specifically. “This year, Billa has already opened a new store in Čestlice near Prague and in Dobříš. Another 13 are planned to open, namely two in Prague, three in Central Bohemia, one in Liberec, two in Plzeň, one in Jihomoravský, two in Zlín and two in the South Bohemian region, 35 existing stores will be renovated, “said company spokeswoman Dana Bratánková. The company will introduce electronic price tags in 50 stores and equip another 30 stores with self-service cash registers.
Albert
Even Albert does not want to be too specific when it comes to opening new stores. However, the chain spokesman Jiří Mareček emphasized that the company focuses a lot on modernizing the existing ones. “This year we have opened almost a dozen modernized stores and we plan to modernize more than two dozen more by the end of the year. And also to open several new ones, especially in Moravia,” said Mareček.
The modernization concerns, for example, the installation of new hot self-service counters or new refrigerators with regional beers, or the installation of the Healthy with Albert department in all stores. “Technical innovations include the Albert scan purchasing system, which we will gradually install in several other stores or the use of more than half a million electronic price tags, especially in fresh sections. Both innovations improve the customer shopping experience,” said an Albert spokesman.
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