A Farmers’ Market for the Social-Media Age Launches In Prague

What do you get when you cross Uber with a farmers’ market? Something like the re-launched Scuk.cz

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Written by Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas Published on 09.04.2018 11:33:00 (updated on 07.12.2021) Reading time: 2 minutes

Fans of the internet portal Scuk.cz used to visit the site, curated by Czech blogger Martin Kuciel (a.k.a. Mr. Cuketka), for insider tips on eating and drinking in Prague and beyond.

Last month, ownership of Scuk.cz changed hands; as did the company’s mission. Under the direction of entrepreneur Kamil Demuth, the site is now bringing a whole new way of grocery shopping to the Czech market.

Part farmer’s market, part Uberesque shared-economy venture, the reenvisioned Scuk.cz is designed for those who love to shop local—and socialize while doing it.

The idea, says Demuth, who bought the domain from Kuciel, is to support Czech producers by linking farmers to end customers while creating a community-based online marketplace with local food.

“We are introducing the concept of joint purchases, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost of ordering and creates a community of people around us,” reads the newly launched site.

The purchase works on the principle of a joint order, organized by the so-called “scukař” (in Czech scuk is a play on the word souk, or bazaar).

The scukař, who can then invite additional customers to join the purchase, picks up the merchandise from suppliers, and then dispatches it to the members of the purchasing group at a venue of choice; kind of like hosting your own pop-up farmer’s market.

The scukař receives 7.5 percent from the price of the goods sold with the same share going to Scuk.cz and the remaining 85% ending up directly with the food producers.

The business model is based on the French service La Ruche qui dit Oui (The Food Assembly) which has been operating for over six years in France and eight other Western European countries and has grown to over 1,500 communities and over 13,000 farmers and producers.

A wide selection is currently available from local suppliers, everything from small-batch beer and coffee to bread, whole chickens, preserves and ready-made meals.

Since the launch of the service March 14th, pickups have been created for Vnitroblock, various Prague cafes and restaurants, as well as locations outside of the capital.

Tried the service? Let us know what you think.

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