Retailers across Croatia are investing heavily in technology. Competition is intensifying, labour shortages persist and consumer expectations keep rising.

Supermarkets, FMCG distributors, wholesalers and logistics operators are under pressure to improve efficiency while staying profitable.

Technology is increasingly becoming the foundation of retail performance. Technology providers now play a central role in how retailers operate, across:

• inventory management
• supply-chain visibility
• cybersecurity
• cloud infrastructure
• artificial intelligence
• warehouse automation

The companies in this ranking represent different layers of Croatia’s retail technology ecosystem.

Together, they show how the country’s retail sector is modernising operations, strengthening grocery supply chains and preparing for the next phase of digital commerce.

At a Glance

Rank	Company	FY Revenue*	Strategic Role
1	mStart	Private	Retail Operations & Grocery Systems
2	Combis	Private	Digital Infrastructure & Transformation
3	IN2 Group	Private	ERP & Supply Chain Management
4	Span	Public Company	Cloud, AI & Cybersecurity
5	Gideon Brothers	Private	Robotics & Warehouse Automation

*Latest publicly available information may vary by reporting period.

1. mStart

Key facts

• Founded: 1995
• Headquarters: Zagreb, Croatia

Few technology companies are as closely connected to Croatian retail as mStart.

The company emerged from the retail ecosystem that supported some of the country’s largest grocery and consumer businesses.

Over time, it built extensive expertise in retail software, payment systems, supply-chain operations and enterprise business solutions.

Why it matters to supermarket operators

For supermarket operators, technology is no longer limited to checkout systems.

Retailers need integrated platforms that can manage all of the following at once:

• procurement
• inventory
• logistics
• finance
• customer data
• store operations

mStart’s strength lies in understanding how retail businesses work on a daily operational level.

Its solutions help retailers manage complex product flows across stores, warehouses and distribution networks. They also keep visibility throughout the supply chain.

As Croatia’s retail sector continues to modernise, mStart remains one of the most influential technology providers supporting grocery operations and large-scale retail networks.

2. Combis

Key facts

• Founded: 1990
• Headquarters: Zagreb, Croatia

Combis has become one of Croatia’s leading digital transformation providers.

The company works across:

• cloud infrastructure
• cybersecurity
• networking
• data centres
• managed services
• enterprise IT environments

Why it matters to supermarket operators

Retailers increasingly depend on stable digital infrastructure. It supports e-commerce platforms, loyalty programmes, payment systems and omnichannel operations.

As supermarkets expand digital services, downtime becomes increasingly costly. Reliable infrastructure has become as important as physical store operations.

Combis plays a significant role in helping retailers modernise legacy systems while improving operational resilience.

The company’s work goes beyond traditional IT support. It helps organisations redesign technology architectures for long-term growth, higher transaction volumes and more sophisticated customer engagement tools.

For retailers facing growing cybersecurity risks and digital complexity, Combis remains a key strategic partner.

3. IN2 Group

Key facts

• Founded: 1992
• Headquarters: Zagreb, Croatia

Behind every successful retailer sits a complex network of procurement systems, inventory databases, warehouse operations and financial management platforms.

This is where IN2 Group has established its position.

The company specialises in:

• enterprise software
• business process management
• ERP systems
• data-driven operational platforms

Why it matters to supermarket operators

For grocery retailers, inventory accuracy and supply-chain visibility directly affect profitability.

Stock shortages create lost sales. Excess inventory increases costs. Poor forecasting can affect both customer satisfaction and operating margins.

IN2 helps businesses manage these challenges through integrated business systems designed to improve visibility across operations.

The company’s solutions support many of the processes that keep products moving efficiently through grocery supply chains, distribution centres and retail networks.

Retailers want greater control over increasingly complex supply chains. As a result, enterprise software providers such as IN2 continue to grow in importance.

4. Span

Key facts

• Founded: 1993
• Headquarters: Zagreb, Croatia

Span has grown into one of Croatia’s most internationally recognised technology companies.

It is not focused only on retail. But its expertise in cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence makes it highly relevant to modern retail operations.

Why it matters to supermarket operators

Retailers today generate enormous volumes of data.

Several sources feed increasingly complex data environments:

• customer transactions
• loyalty programmes
• pricing systems
• inventory movements
• online shopping behaviour
• supply-chain information

Managing and protecting these systems requires specialised expertise.

Span helps organisations build secure cloud environments that can support large-scale digital operations.

The company also sits where AI deployment meets enterprise data management. Both areas are expected to receive growing investment from retailers over the coming years.

For companies pursuing supermarket digital transformation, cloud readiness and cybersecurity have become essential rather than optional investments.

5. Gideon Brothers

Key facts

• Founded: 2017
• Headquarters: Zagreb, Croatia

Gideon Brothers represents a different side of Croatia’s technology sector.

It does not focus on enterprise software or infrastructure. Instead, the company specialises in autonomous mobile robots, artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies.

Why it matters to supermarket operators

Warehouse automation is becoming a major priority for retailers worldwide.

Labour shortages, rising logistics costs and higher delivery expectations are forcing companies to rethink distribution centre operations.

Gideon Brothers develops robotic systems that can navigate complex warehouse environments. They support material movement and operational efficiency.

Its technology has attracted attention well beyond Croatia. It reflects broader trends shaping retail logistics globally.

For supermarkets and FMCG distributors, automation is no longer a future concept. It is increasingly becoming part of everyday operations.

Gideon Brothers shows how Croatian innovation is contributing to the next generation of warehouse automation and intelligent logistics systems.

Industry Outlook

Technology spending across the Croatian retail sector is expected to stay focused on operational efficiency rather than purely customer-facing innovation.

Retailers continue to face margin pressure from rising operating costs, labour challenges and increasing competition.

As a result, investment priorities are increasingly centred on:

• Supply-chain visibility
• Inventory optimization
• Warehouse automation
• Artificial intelligence
• Cloud infrastructure
• Cybersecurity
• Data analytics
• Omnichannel retail operations

These areas are becoming critical for staying competitive across Croatia supermarkets and regional retail networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the leading retail technology companies in Croatia?

The five companies covered are mStart, Combis, IN2 Group, Span and Gideon Brothers. All five are headquartered in Zagreb.

Which Croatian company focuses on warehouse automation?

Gideon Brothers, founded in 2017, specialises in autonomous mobile robots, artificial intelligence and computer vision for warehouse environments.

Where are Croatian retailers focusing technology investment?

Priorities include supply-chain visibility, inventory optimisation, warehouse automation, AI, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, data analytics and omnichannel operations. Spending is focused on operational efficiency rather than purely customer-facing innovation.

What Happens Next

The next phase of retail technology investment in Croatia will likely focus on deeper integration between operational software, cloud infrastructure and automation systems.

Retailers increasingly want partners that can deliver end-to-end solutions. These should improve efficiency across grocery supply chains while reducing operational complexity.

Warehouse automation, AI-powered analytics and cybersecurity are expected to attract continued investment. Retailers are adapting to changing consumer expectations and rising operational costs.

At the same time, supermarket digital transformation is likely to speed up. Retailers want greater visibility across inventory, logistics and customer engagement platforms.

Companies that combine operational expertise with scalable technology solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the Croatian retail sector.

Editor’s Note: This ranking was compiled using publicly available company information, industry reports, corporate disclosures, market positioning, operational relevance, and the companies’ roles within Croatia’s retail, grocery, logistics, and technology sectors. Rankings reflect editorial assessment of industry influence and strategic importance rather than revenue alone.