Placek Group: We set the trend

The Czechia-based Placek Group is taking a new approach. Today, 6 December, the pet retailer is opening the first self-service pet store in Europe under its brand Super zoo in Týn nad Vltavou, approx. 150 km south of Prague. The customers will be able to buy supplies and food for their pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – shopping around the clock will be possible without adhering to standard opening hours. Super zoo plans to open 24/7 self-service stores in other cities in the course of time.

For Dusan Placek, the owner and founder of the Placek Group, the new concept is additional proof that Super zoo is the market leader in the Czech pet supplies business. “At Super zoo we try hard to achieve the best customer experience. Next to all assortment innovations, we focus on digitalisation and customer service as well. We set the trend in the pet supplies business,” he says.

The Placek Group is a family enterprise that has been active in the pet supplies business since 1986. It is one of the key players in the European pet supplies market, operating over 320 retail stores in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Latvia and employing more than 2 500 staff. The wholesale channel distributes pet products to more than 1 000 customers in 20 countries. The group states its annual turnover at more than 260 mio euros.

Super zoo 24/7 is another innovation that will be included in the list of services, such as the unpackaged sale of granules called nasyptesi, in-store grooming salons, in-store vet, fastest home delivery of purchases, Super zoo family loyalty programme and omnichannel sales with the Click & Collect service.

The payment service provider Mastercard cooperated in the implementation of the project. Michal Carny, the CEO of Mastercard for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, says: “As a technology company, we are constantly trying to advance the entire payment and shopping process so that it is as comfortable, user-friendly, fast and, above all, safe as possible for the customers. I am very happy that we share a common vision with our partners and are gradually presenting the future of shopping not only in Prague, but also in other regional cities.”