Most businesses expect to be full on Valentine's Day, chocolate sales growing in stores

Even though it is not a traditional Czech holiday, many restaurants in Czechia expect to be fully today on Valentine's Day, February 14th, according to the responses of restaurants collated by ČTK and the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Czech Republic. According to the association, special menus associated with an accompanying programme or perhaps a tasting will be offered mainly by businesses with a more intimate atmosphere, while typical beer restaurants expect less interest.

Some will prepare their Valentine's Day dinner at home themselves, and supermarkets have stated that sales of premium foods and higher-quality ingredients are increasing in the period before Valentine's Day. According to Košík spokesman František Brož, people buy foreign cheeses, dried hams or olives in the period before Valentine's Day, but also higher-quality ingredients such as organic meat from local farms, fresh fish and seafood. The Billa supermarket chain also records larger purchases of small gifts, mainly chocolates and flowers, leading up to Valentine's Day, up to a third compared with normal days.