MUNICH, 27. 9. 2023 – Rohlik Group, a leading European online food retail leader with €750 million in annual revenue this year and expected to approach €900 million post-acquisition, is delighted to announce this pivotal transaction. Rohlik Group acquires Bringmeister from Czech investment group Rockaway Capital, which will in return receive a stake in the Rohlik Group. The amount of the stake will depend on the performance achieved by Knuspr.de and Bringmeister after the merger over the next year. Experiencing a robust pre-transaction growth rate of 30% year-on-year post-COVID, this acquisition aims further to accelerate Rohlik Group's upward trajectory and geographical expansion.
Strategic Significance of the Transaction
Rohlik Group has consistently exhibited rapid growth and profitability across European markets, notably in Czechia and Hungary. The acquisition of Bringmeister via its subsidiary Knuspr.de significantly enlarges its footprint. It adds Berlin to its service areas and further cements its presence in Munich. Munich, originally forecasted to turn profitable this year, is now set to reach this important milestone even more rapidly.
Furthermore, Knuspr’s online grocery delivery market share in Munich will exceed 25 % post-acquisition making it the largest player there. Bringmeister is also the leading player in Berlin. Knuspr.de has ambitious plans to extend its services to 10 additional German cities in the coming years.
As part of our integration strategy, in October, Bringmeister's Munich operations will transition to Knuspr's fully automated fulfillment center in Garching near Munich. Bringmeiser customers will then be introduced to a new shopping experience at Knuspr.de. This strategic move will increase efficiency, lower operational expenses, and thereby increase profitability. In Berlin, the Bringmeister brand will continue its operations until the beginning of 2024.
Future Outlook and Customer Benefits
Rohlik Group, a technological pioneer in the market, will integrate its automation technology into the newly combined operations. Bringmeister customers can look forward to improved services, including faster delivery of 3 hours from order, short delivery windows and a richer local and unique international assortment. Knuspr also delivers pharmacy assortment. The combination of speed and assortment makes it an ultimate shopping experience that will further improve over the coming months with 60-minute delivery and 15-minute delivery windows.
"We are exceedingly optimistic about the future of the online grocery sector and particularly Rohlik Group, given our ultimate market proposition. This transaction is a significant accelerator for our continued growth. We can't wait to show what we have to offer to Bringmeister customers in Munich and Berlin," said Tomas Cupr, founder of Rohlik Group.
Jakub Havrlant, CEO of Rockaway, past owner of Bringmeister, stated, "The current situation in e-grocery shows a dynamic and growing market. I am convinced that this transaction, which leads to the merger of Knuspr and Bringmeister, will strengthen Rohlik Group's position in the German market significantly."
About Rohlik Group
Founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, Rohlik Group is a leading European online grocery delivery service bringing about a digital revolution whilst accelerating and redefining the retail food industry. Already active in the Czech Republic (Rohlik.cz), Hungary (Kifli.hu), Austria (Gurkerl.at), Germany (Knuspr.de) and Romania (Sezamo.ro). The company is dynamic and growing rapidly, attaining unicorn status in 2021. Deploying world-leading technology & logistics, Rohlik can deliver a huge range of high-quality products (17,000 SKUs+) within 60 minutes and within 15-minute same-day time windows. As a tech company, it is data-driven in everything it does. By owning its end-to-end operations, including having all technology in-house, customers are provided with a superior shopping experience including delivery of the freshest food from local farmers and artisans, as well as a broad supermarket selection and its own private label brands.
About Bringmeister
Established in 1997, Bringmeister has carved out a strong reputation in Germany for its high-quality product offerings and exceptional customer service. Bringmeister was acquired by investment group Rockaway Capital from EDEKA in April 2021 with the aim of building the company into a leader in the German online grocery market. This has been achieved within two years and Bringmeister has become a major player in Germany.
Under Rockaway Capital’s ownership, Bringmeister also managed to take first place in the prestigious Stiftung Warentest this year - a traditional assessment provided by an independent and renowned German foundation whose main aim is to provide consumers with independent and objective information on the quality and performance of various products on the market.
About Knuspr
The German online supermarket Knuspr delivers fresh, high-quality food directly to customers' homes within three hours. The full range focuses on fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products, and baked goods. Knuspr delivers 12 000 SKUs. Among other things, the origin and logistics make the difference: Knuspr sources more than two-thirds of its full range directly from producers and farmers, not from wholesalers and/or middlemen. During the main harvest season, up to 80% of the assortment comes from regional suppliers.
In Munich, Knuspr's logistics center in Garching serves as the single point of transhipment for all orders from the Munich and Augsburg areas, and the same applies to Knuspr's Bischofsheim location and the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. This means that products can be delivered to customers' homes in the shortest possible time - from just seven hours after harvesting or production. With this innovative concept of fresh products, the wide full range and fast delivery, Knuspr is a revolutionary player in the e-food business.
About Rockaway Capital
Rockaway Capital, founded and managed by Jakub Havrlant, operates in 17 European countries primarily in the areas of e-commerce, e-travel, venture capital, fintech, media and blockchain - its portfolio includes the online travel agency Invia, content and e-commerce platform Gjirafa, online store Vivantis, publishing house Euromedia Group and bookstore network Luxor, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Colours of Ostrava, numerous technology startups worldwide such as Productboard, Spotawheel, Freeway Camper and blockchain fund RockawayX.