Rohlik Group expands: Raises 4 Billion to Conquer Europe !
In the spring, Rohlik Group founder Tomáš Čupr said he would take a break from looking for new investments for some time. But now he has announced that he will raise CZK 4 billion and plans to expand to 15 new cities across Europe.
Rohlik Group, the leader in the online grocery market in Central and Eastern Europe, will raise €160 million from private investors such as Sofina, Index Ventures, Quadrille, TCF Capital, as well as institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank. The funds are to be used to expand to 15 more cities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe ahead of a planned listing by 2030.
Rohlik last secured an investment of CZK 5.4 billion in 2022. In total, the Czech unicorn has raised almost CZK 20 billion. The group, which achieved a turnover of CZK 17.8 billion last year, is not yet profitable as a whole, but is already profitable in its home markets in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Munich, thanks to investments in automation.
“Across Europe there is a huge demand for online food purchases that are delivered quickly and reliably without compromising on quality. This is not a short-term trend, but a long-term opportunity,” said Tomáš Čupr. The company plans to reach a billion in sales this year.
This investment is the first operation under the European Investment Bank’s Scale-Up initiative, aimed at supporting growing companies. In 2023, Rohlik Group bought German online grocery retailer Bringmeister from Czech investment group Rockaway Capital and withdrew from Spain and Italy to strengthen its position in Germany. It now delivers in Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Augsburg.
Although Cupr did not specify the new cities, he has in the past mentioned interest in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Cologne. “If we succeed in Germany, other countries will follow. If we now divide our attention and resources between three countries – Italy, Spain and Germany – there is a risk that we will get each of them wrong,” Cupr said last year.
In the Czech market, Rohlik generates two-thirds of its turnover and is far ahead of competitors such as Billa, Košík.cz, iTesco and Lidl. While Billa is investing in expansion, Košík.cz holds second place and Kaufland has launched an online marketplace.
Chupr had previously suggested that it would not be looking for further investment this year, but new developments suggest otherwise. McKinsey estimates that up to 30% of food sales in major EU countries could be online by 2030.
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