Amazon celebrates 10 years in Czechia: Exceeding CZK 45 billion

We currently operate three centres in the Czech Republic and a corporate office in Prague. This year, Amazon has been recognised as Top Employer 2025 for the third time in a row.

"We have come a long way in the Czech Republic in ten years - from a single return centre we have built a modern network of three operations and corporate offices and helped built infrastructure in the surrounding areas. Regarding this, we invested altogether over 45 billion crowns and engaged in dozens of meaningful projects. Our ambition is to continue to be a fair employer with a diverse range of positions and an active partner in the regions where we operate," says Michal Šmíd, General Manager of Amazon Czech Republic.

Since 2013, Amazon has invested more than CZK 45 billion (around €1.9 billion) in the Czech Republic, CZK 6 billion (around €247 million) in 2024 alone, including infrastructure and compensation to its employees. Over the last 10 years, Keystone estimates our investments have contributed more than additional CZK 29 billion (around €1.1 million) to the Czech Republic's GDP. This means that every koruna (CZK) invested by Amazon in the Czech Republic generated an estimated CZK 1.03 (around €1.03) in value-added effects.

We opened our first logistics centre in Dobrovíz in 2015. Originally a returns centre, it is now one of the key operations within Amazon's European distribution centre network. In 2023, we launched a 'Merch on Demand' textile printing operation in the Chomutov region. The same year, we saw the opening of the first fully robotic logistics centre, this time in Kojetin.

“The robotic building in Kojetín is a unique workplace in the Czech Republic, where technology not only supports efficiency but also protects the health and safety of our employees. From day one we offer competitive pay and benefits, while putting strong emphasis on professional development and career growth.
We believe that a modern working environment and long-term investment in people are shaping the future of logistics,” says Jan Vavřík, General Manager of the Kojetín robotic centre. Modern technologies such as a robotic arm, palletiser or autonomous robots operate here, thanks to which workers do not have to strain themselves with extra movements or lift heavy loads.

Supporting all kinds of people

The composition of the teams is deliberately very diverse, with a roughly balanced ratio of women and men at Amazon. There are students, part-timers, parents in a special return-to-work programme after parental leave, and senior employees.

Employees are entitled to a wide range of benefits, including a comprehensive parental benefits package. Through the Career Choice training programme, they can study English and a variety of skills, with Amazon contributing up to 100% of the education costs. In addition, employees can take advantage of pension and life insurance contributions, free transport to work, subsidised meals in the company canteen or discounts and vouchers for purchases.

The logistics centres in Dobrovíz and Kojetín also have a unique programme to support the employment of people with hearing impairments. These people have sign language interpreters on site and other volunteers are trained in its use.

The Kojetín facility offers a number of jobs for highly skilled employees due to its advanced technology. This site has a long-term cooperation with the Tomas Bata University in Zlín, for whose students it organises guided tours of the centre, internship programmes and practical workshops.

A celebration marked by regional impact

"I congratulate Amazon on its significant milestone of ten years of operation in the Czech Republic. During this time, the company has proven itself to be an important partner for Czech industry and a significant employer that brings advanced technologies and innovations to the country. I particularly appreciate the investments in robotization and automation, which help move the Czech economy towards Industry 4.0, as well as the emphasis on sustainable development and support for local communities. I am also pleased that Amazon is helping Czech companies expand into foreign markets. I wish the company every success in the years to come and believe that it will continue to contribute to the development of the Czech economy and strengthen the Czech Republic's competitiveness in the field of modern technologies," says Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček.

The tenth anniversary celebrations drew hundreds to Amazon's facilities in Dobrovíz and Kojetín. Employees joined local government officials, community leaders, and business partners for the milestone event, which showcased success stories from Czech companies like Pepperfield, Green Idea, and Presco – businesses that have successfully expanded internationally through Amazon's marketplace.

"Thanks to FBA, Subscribe & Save, and Prime Day, we grew by 159% quarter-on-quarter on Amazon in Germany. The positive reviews we collected subsequently opened up the UK market for us. Overall, we estimate the credibility gained in one market thanks to Pan-EU FBA to be worth ~20 European markets with minimal additional costs. We build trust in one market, and you reap the benefits in others," said David Grinberg, Expansion Consultant of Pepperfield.

“Thanks to Amazon, we have gained access to tens of millions of customers across Europe without having to build our own brand in each regional market. Last but not least, we have also confirmed that we are able to compete with companies from all over the world. Fulfillment by Amazon has allowed us to take advantage of its logistics network and Prime delivery, resulting in shorter delivery times and greater customer satisfaction. Through our partnership with Amazon, we have expanded our business into new regions and achieved significant sales growth. This year, we expect a turnover of CZK 12-14 million, but the potential for cooperation is even greater,” said Jiří Pantůček, owner and CEO of Green idea.

"Working with Amazon has opened doors to new European markets and significantly increased our share of international sales – today, they account for more than 40% of our e-commerce turnover. Thanks to Amazon's infrastructure and services, we have been able to overcome logistical and language barriers and position the Baagl brand among the strong players in the school backpack and accessories segment," said Michal Šmidrkal, Sales Director of Baagl.

Currently, more than 700 SMEs sell on Amazon. Last year alone, they sold over 5 million products to countries around the world.

Supporting communities across the Czech Republic

"We are proud that Amazon is helping not only the business grow in the Czech
Republic, but also the communities in which it operates. As part of our long-term support for communities and the development of corporate volunteering, all of our centres in the Czech Republic work with a number of non-profit organisations. For example, the partnership is with ADRA Czech Republic, which focuses on humanitarian aid and volunteering. Individual centres also develop cooperation with other partners at the local level," concludes Slawomir Płonka, Amazon's Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe.

Our digital education initiative for children includes two Kindlotekas—one at Prague's Kulturní centrum Průhon and another at Most's city library—with a third location set to open in Olomouc this autumn. Additionally, following our successful Global Month of Volunteering campaign in 2024, employees selected Nedoklubko, an organization supporting premature babies, as their primary charitable focus. Our community engagement extends to numerous other organizations including Social Services Chomutov, Children's Homes in Vysoká Pec and Hostivice, PAHOP, Together for Children, Hope, Cesta domů, and various Clothing and Food Banks across the country.

As we continue to grow in the Czech Republic, our commitment to the community remains steadfast.