Rohlik, a Prague-based grocery ordering and delivery company, has secured €190 million (approx £164 million) funding.
The round was led by Partech, joined by Index Ventures, with participation from EBRD, J&T Banka, Quadrille Capital, R2G, and existing investor Enern.
How will the funding be used?
The funding will be used to fuel its expansion in existing markets and the launch in Germany and other international markets. The Czech republic company saw €300 million (approx £259 million) in revenue, representing 101% annual growth, and 750,000 customers in FY2020.
Rohlik’s USP
Amid lots of online grocery delivery companies, Rohlik’s unique proposition is its deep understanding of European consumers’ shopping habits, which traditionally combine supermarket shopping with visits to smaller local businesses.
Offers over 17,000 items
The company offers customers a choice of over 17,000 items sourced from both global FMCG companies and local merchants. It also offers a 15-minute delivery window with delivery as soon as within two hours of placing an order.
At present, the company is active in the Czech Republic (Rohlik.cz), Hungary (Kifli.hu), and Austria (Gurkerl.at).
“At Rohlik, we want people to eat well and live well’. We offer a broad selection of awesome food to our customers and provide them with a service that makes life easier,” explains Tomáš Čupr, Rohlik Group CEO. “With this funding round, we will be able to accelerate our growth and continue to invest in our market-leading technology and operating capabilities.”
Omri Benayoun, General Partner at Partech, commented: “Rohlik is the most exciting player in the European online grocery industry. We are honoured to partner with Rohlik’s founder Tomáš Čupr, whose passion for service, sustainability, and vision for the grocery sector we share. Rohlik’s execution expertise has earned it the trust of both local merchants and global FMCG companies, allowing Rohlik to outperform on quality and price compared to the grocery giants.”
Jan Hammer, Partner at Index Ventures, commented: “We’ve been impressed with Rohlik’s consumer proposition, offering premium produce alongside a wide range of value-priced products, combined with convenient delivery options. The team at Rohlik has executed flawlessly and relentlessly to create one of the most exciting and fastest-growing food businesses in Europe.”
Rohlik Group is currently the only Czech startup to receive €190 million (approx £164 million) from investors. The fundraising was supported by Arma Partners as an exclusive financial advisor, legal advice from White & Case as well as the tax and accounting due diligence from Deloitte.
“We expect that our activities will kick-start the market and force all players in the retail industry to accelerate. We are not focused on delivering a small basket very quickly like other players in the market, but fulfilling real needs of families in Europe,” comments Tomáš Čupr on the expected impact of Rohlik Group’s expansion activities on the retail market.