Czech food retail tech and online grocery company, Rohlik Group, has successfully secured $170 million in fresh growth capital, bringing its total funding to over $780 million. This significant investment underscores Rohlik's rapid and sustainable growth trajectory in the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) regions, as it continues to meet the burgeoning demand for high-quality online grocery services.
Founded to address the growing consumer preference for online grocery shopping, Rohlik has swiftly established itself as a leader in the market. The company has achieved this by offering a superior customer experience characterized by reliability, quality, and speed. Rohlik's success is evident in its impressive operational metrics: over a million orders delivered per month to more than 800,000 customers in 2023, with an on-time delivery rate of 97%.
Central to Rohlik's operational excellence are its fully automated fulfillment centers. These centers leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotics to enhance efficiency and productivity while maintaining high quality standards. Customers benefit from this technology-driven approach through reliable 15-minute delivery windows and same-day delivery options available as quickly as one hour after booking.
Rohlik's strategic growth has led to profitability in Munich, following earlier successes in the Czech Republic and Hungary. This achievement validates its economic model in Germany and demonstrates the company's ability to scale efficiently. In a significant move to bolster its presence in Germany, Rohlik acquired Bringmeister in September 2023.
The recent $170 million funding round was led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with participation from existing investors Sofina, Index Ventures, Quadrille, and TCF Capital. The European Investment Bank (EIB) also contributed growth capital under its Scale-Up Initiative. This diverse investor support reflects strong confidence in Rohlik's business model and growth potential.
Tomáš Čupr, founder and CEO of Rohlik Group, emphasized the long-term opportunity in the online grocery market, stating:
“There is huge demand across Europe for online groceries delivered quickly and reliably without any compromise on quality. We don’t see that as a short-term phenomenon, but as a long-term opportunity around which to build a market-leading proposition. At Rohlik, we have built the technology to deliver on that promise in a sustainable and profitable way, leveraging AI, ML and robotics technology with our obsession with customer service to drive maximum efficiency and high productivity. This funding will allow us to accelerate our growth, opening facilities in more than 10 new cities, and set the standard in online grocery delivery across Europe.”
Tamas Nagy, Director and co-head of Equity Investments at the EBRD, expressed continued confidence in Rohlik's trajectory:
“We first partnered with Rohlik three years ago and have been continuously impressed by the management team’s execution and investment into proprietary technology, automation and increasing use of artificial intelligence across its operations.”
Kyriacos Kakouris, Vice-President at the EIB, highlighted the significance of the funding:
"This financing marks the first operation under the EIB Scale-up Initiative, designed to support more mature growth companies like Rohlik.”
With the new capital injection, Rohlik is poised to further its ambitious expansion plans. The company aims to establish its presence in more than 10 additional cities by 2030, cementing its position as a market leader in online grocery delivery across Europe.
Rohlik Group's remarkable journey from a startup to a profitable and rapidly expanding enterprise exemplifies the transformative potential of technology in the retail sector. With robust investor backing and a clear vision for the future, Rohlik is set to redefine the standards of online grocery services in Europe.
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