Two new online markets respond to a growing need for grocery delivery in Prague

There are two new players in the online food delivery sector in the Czech Republic. Italian-based firm Everli has just entered the Czech market, already offering services in Prague, and soon adding Ostrava, and Brno.

Domestic firm Tomato.cz began delivering groceries, health aids, and office supplies in Prague in early March and plans to expand soon to Central Bohemia and then the rest of the country. The two new entries bring the total of online grocery companies operating domestically to five, including the already existing Kosik.cz, Rohlik.cz, and iTesco.cz.

Unlike its competitors, Everli does not have its own warehouses of goods. Instead, couriers take the lists submitted online by clients and go to retail chains to make the purchases, and then deliver the purchases the same day to the clients.

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The chains covered so far on the Czech market are Albert, Billa, Globus, Kaufland, and Tesco. Orders can be made over the Everli website or smartphone apps for iOs or Android. There is a CZK 49 delivery fee for orders under CZK 800. Over that, delivery is free. Payments can be made by cash, card, Google Pay or Apple Pay.

“Instead of being tethered and restricted to a radius around our own expensive central warehouses, we are able to operate across a much wider geographical footprint, entering small-to-medium density areas and offering many customers their first opportunity to receive same-day groceries,” Federico Sargenti, the CEO of Everli, said in a press release.

He added that he believes the online delivery sector will continue to grow, even after the pandemic subsides. “The shift to online delivery is not reversing, and expectations on all sides are only increasing. We have built a model which we believe offers unparalleled value to consumers, through wide access to the retailers and products they love, even in less urban areas, and to retailers, who are now able to affordably compete online and reach a whole new consumer base,” he said.

Everli also welcomes large orders. “Rather than small baskets, or picking up just the basic essentials, Everli is focused on delivering whatever you need right up to your full weekly shop, with same-day delivery and a one-hour delivery window of your choice,” Sargenti said.

Last year, Everli expanded into Poland. This year aside from the Czech Republic they will also start offering services in France. Foreign sales now account for 20 percent of the company's orders. Everli began doing business in 2014 as Supermercato24.

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Delivery by Tomato.cz. (Photo: Tomato.cz)

The other new player, Tomato.cz, launched services March 8. Its business plan is to offer more affordable prices for common items, and an extended range that includes more international sweets and Asian food ingredients.

“Nowadays, for many people, the opportunity to shop online is a very welcome and often the only way to get the necessary goods. However, many of them are discouraged by the price, which is often higher than when shopping in a supermarket,” Viktor Mai, CEO of Tomato.cz, said in a press release.

“We want to give people the opportunity to shop conveniently and comfortably. At Tomato.cz, they will buy all durable food and regular health and hygiene aids at the same or better prices than in regular supermarkets,” Mai added.

At first, Tomato.cz will deliver a wide range of durable foods, health aids, and home office supplies throughout Prague in cooperation with delivery service DoDo. The minimum order is CZK 500. The delivery fee is CZK 99, but currently delivery on orders over CZK 500 is free, according to the website. In the future, the delivery fee should apply to orders under CZK 1,000.

Deliveries will be the next day or another day chosen by the customer, within a two-hour window. Tomato.cz does not accept cash. Payment can be made by card in advance or upon delivery.