This is a European country with a large number of chain grocery stores, but each of them has its own characteristics and price category. We have prepared an overview of what supermarkets are in the Czech Republic, where it is cheaper to shop and other features of shopping in the Czech Republic.
Even in small towns, you will most likely find at least two or three – albeit small – supermarkets with different names: Albert, Billa, Kaufland, Lidl, Penny, Tesco. Google maps or Mapy.cz will lead you to the nearest supermarket within a radius of a few kilometers, even if you are far outside the capital.
There are many European supermarket chains operating in the Czech Republic, which are convenient for both city residents and guests who do not know the Czech language. However, there are indisputable leaders among stores – from the British Tesco stores to the German Kaufland chain. By the way, most supermarkets are German.
Tesco
Probably the only non-German supermarket chain in the Czech Republic. Tesco is an English type of store that is divided into different categories – from small shops to large hypermarkets. Prices are higher than average, but the quality is better. There are several Tesco supermarkets in Prague that are open 24 hours a day.
Albert
This chain is divided into two types of stores – hypermarkets and supermarkets. Fairly low prices, can often be found in shopping centers or near the house. The quality and level of service depends on the specific store.
Kaufland
A chain of huge supermarkets, where you can find everything from vegetables and fruits to home and garden products at reasonable prices. This is a wide chain of grocery stores, there are more than 120 of them in the Czech Republic. Most often in the form of a separate store.
Lidl
Another German food and household goods chain . It is the undisputed leader among supermarkets according to the results of an annual vote held among Czech citizens. High quality products, new products appear every week, for example from Italian or Greek cuisine. This store can be found in almost every city.
Billa
A high-quality supermarket with above-average prices. Also located in almost all cities, it provides customers with a large selection of Czech products. You won’t find many household items here, but there is a large selection of food items.
Globus
These huge hypermarkets can be classified as high class. Excellent service, own restaurants and cafes, good assortment and quality. There are only 15 of them in the Czech Republic.
Penny, Norma, Coop, Terno, Flop
Fairly cheap discount grocery stores. Located most often in neighborhoods or small towns. The quality and assortment are not at a very high level, but the prices will definitely please everyone.
Where to find late night deals and deals
We recommend that you look at the website akcniceny.cz . Here you can search for a specific product with a discount in certain “detours”, or discounts in the store closest to you, for example.
Discount shopping is a popular game in the Czech Republic. Especially among pensioners. Therefore, if the product is popular and the price is low, it is quite possible to come to the store and find yourself among empty shelves. I am glad that promotions in supermarkets are a permanent thing. At Lidl, for example, you can take a booklet with discounts for the whole week and plan productive shopping.
Evenings
Evening shops are small shops. Something like a small shop under the house, where you can run late at night, when the supermarkets are already closing (hence the name večerka). They are mainly owned by Vietnamese people, that is why the name “Vietnamese shop, Vietnamese woman” is sometimes found. The assortment may surprise you, you can really find everything you need here, as well as all kinds of Asian spices and sauces. Food prices in restaurants are usually higher than in supermarkets.
A frog
Also a party, but already online. Everything there is almost the same as in Vietnamese parties. Prices are higher than in large chain supermarkets, but you can come here for milk from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.