Retail in Detail/FMCG Online: Can we expect a massive growth in the market share of Internet retailers?
Published 4/15/2015

Praha, 15th April 2015 – E-Commerce in the FMCG segment in the Czech republic does not amount to such market shares as in the UK or France so far. But in the future it will change due to the expansion of iTESCO into other regions and also as a result of the launch of other Internet players. Despite these changes we can expect that the main obstacles for the decision to shop food on the Internet will largely remain in the minds of potential customers. How can Internet retailers deal with these challenges? These questions will be discussed at the next specialized conference Retail in Detail with the subtitle FMCG Online, which will take place on June 10, 2015 in the Prague innovation HUB centre.

E-Commerce in the FMCG segment in the Czech Republic does not amount to such market shares as in the UK or France, where the level is approaching 6, or 4%. According to the GfK household panel our share reached 0.8% in the last year. However, as the Incoma FMCG eShopping 2014 study shows, already tens of per cent of Czech consumers buy FMCG online. It is, of course, so far mostly a matter of narrow assortment purchases, in particular, vitamins and food supplements. This assortment was in the last year purchased online by 28% of customers who have access to the Internet, which is more than 20% of the total Czech population (Internet access is reported by approximately 75% of Czechs). Also buying cosmetics, household cleaning and supplies for pets are very popular online. Food (without the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) was purchased just by 10% of the Internet population.

No doubt, these numbers will be fundamentally changed this year, both thanks to the expansion of iTESCO into other regions, and as a result of the launch of other Internet players. Despite these changes we can expect that the main obstacles for the decision to shop food on the Internet will largely remain in the minds of potential customers. As stated by one of the authors of the research, and lecturer at the Retail in Detail/FMCG Online conference Zdeněk Skála: "These barriers include, in particular, the cost of transport of goods, long delivery time, concern about the quality and freshness, together with the lack of chance to see and check the item before the purchase."

Can Internet retailers cope with these challenges? And if so, shall we expect the clash of brick &mortar Internet shops? Or will the key battle take place rather between retailers selling in only one "channel" and those who offer their services to customers where ever they are interested? In other words: is omni-channel just a noble vision or future reality of FMCG retail trade?

These questions will be discussed at the next specialized conference Retail in Detail with the subtitle FMCG Online, which will take place on June 10, 2015 in the Prague innovation HUB centre. The number of participants is limited by the capacity of the innovation centre, therefore we recommend to sign up in time.

About Retail in Detail / FMCG On Line
When: 10th June 2015
Where: Impact HUB, Praha

More detailed information:
Barbora Krásná, Blue Events
barbora.krasna@blueevents.eu

Media contact:
Aneta Zímová, Blue Events
aneta.zimova@blueevents.eu