Aug 22, 2026

The French Expands in Prague With Fresh Produce From France

Prague Morning

For the past 12 years, Benjamin has been building a life in Prague — and helping bring a taste of France to the Czech capital.

What began as a business supplying wine to hotels, restaurants and wine bars has gradually grown into The French, a food business focused on bringing French products directly to Prague.

The company started with an e-shop selling mainly dry goods such as pâté and foie gras. But Benjamin soon realised there was something missing: fresh French produce.

“The idea, step by step, was that we were missing fresh products to be able to open a physical shop. That’s how, two years ago, we started importing fresh products.”

Today, The French operates two shops in Prague and imports a wide range of products directly from France, with a focus on freshness and quality while keeping prices accessible.

“It cannot be more fresh than what we import.”

From breakfast to dinner

Fresh fruit and vegetables have become one of the shop’s main attractions. The products are imported weekly, with a truck leaving France every Tuesday carrying oysters, mussels, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables.

“Two days ago it was in the sea and today it’s already in Prague, sitting in our fridge.”

The shop aims to cover the entire day, from breakfast to dinner. Customers can pick up croissants and pain au chocolat in the morning, fresh coffee, and a selection of French products for lunch and dinner.

Among the more distinctive products are French crème fraîche and salted butter. Benjamin points out that the natural colour of the dairy products can change during the year depending on what the cows eat.

“If you have the same colour of butter or cream throughout the whole year, it’s because they are not eating grass.”

A new home in Vinohrady

The company recently expanded with a larger shop in Vinohrady, giving customers access to the wider range of ultra-fresh products imported directly from France.

The French also supplies restaurants and hotels across Prague with products including butter, cream, cheese, ham, sausages and olives. Much of the range comes directly from the Rungis International Market near Paris, one of the largest food markets in Europe.

The company also works with individual farmers, with some products clearly marked as coming from producers. “In Prague, you don’t have any shop that is grouping all of these categories of products.”

Customers can also order through The French’s e-shop and either have their purchases delivered or collect them from a shop.

But Benjamin says the experience is intended to be more personal than a standard supermarket.

“We are not a shop where people are just behind the cash desk. We have people going into the shop to explain what we have, recommend what to cook and what to pair.”

French food for everyone

Although many customers are French, The French is not specifically aimed at the French community.

The Vinohrady shop attracts a large number of expats, while the company’s Prague 4 location has a much higher proportion of Czech customers. Benjamin says the goal is to serve people living in the neighbourhood regardless of nationality.

“We are not targeting especially expats or especially French. We are trying to target everyone living in the area.”

There are, however, some differences in what Czech and French customers look for. Stronger French cheeses, for example, can take some getting used to, while certain French cuts of meat differ from traditional Czech ones.

Some types of fish are also relatively unfamiliar. Red mullet, or rouget, is widely used in French cuisine and high-end restaurants but is less common in Czech kitchens.

Growing across Prague

The French has ambitious plans for the coming years. After opening its Vinohrady location and another shop in Prague 4, the company is preparing to open another location in Prague 9 in October.

The long-term goal is to operate five or six shops across Prague, with Holešovice and Dejvice among the areas being considered.