History

Zagreb Holding - Subsidiary Zagreb Markets operates in 28 locations (markets) and has approximately 2,500 clients renting retail spaces and commercial properties.

In 1242, running from the Tatars, Croatian and Hungarian King Bela IV fled to the Lotrščak Tower in the Upper Town (Gradec). As a sign of gratitude for saving his life, Bela IV proclaimed Gradec a royal free city. Gradec gained the right to organise a fair and a market, and as a royal free city, it collected its own customs duties and taxes. That was the beginning of market activity in Zagreb (Gradec).

Unification of Gradec and Kaptol into a single city, Zagreb, in 1850, marked the beginning of operation of Zagreb markets. In 1850, Zagreb’s first market was located in front of the Cathedral, or, to be more precise, near the present-day restaurant Kaptolska klet. In late 19th century, the market moved to Trg bana Josipa Jelačića.

In 1928, the authorities of the City of Zagreb decided to build a central city market in Dolac 2, which was completed in 1930. That same year, the City established the city company Zagreb Markets, which comprised the Dolac Market (the Belly of the City), Međašni plac - Old Kvatrić Market, Tržnica pod Črešnjom (Trešnjevka Market) and the wholesale market with the central commodity market, located in present-day Branimirova Market.

City authorities enacted the Market Rules regulating the manner and rules of trading, treatment of customers and all aspects of commodity control, from market, sanitary, and veterinarian to municipal inspections in order to guarantee food quality and safety.

After the World War II, as the City grew, the number of markets grew as well to the present figure of 22 retail markets in all city districts, along with the Wholesale Market, Cold Storage, and Green Market.

When big retail chains arrived in Croatia in 2000, the structure of the sellers at the Zagreb Markets started to change. The number of crafts and stores started to decrease, and the number of producers started to increase, contributing to the image of the Markets’ brand as a place where locally grown, high quality fresh products are sold.

This gave the markets their original meaning back:

“The markets are the only place in the city where we can shop with confidence for fresh, locally grown produce, seasonal foods and vegetables, cottage cheese and cream, high-quality freshly caught fish, meat and meat products, and different products that we remember from our grannies’ tales.”

Such a market brand is tremendously important for the image of Zagreb’s hospitality industry, as original Zagreb cuisine cannot exist without the markets that offer high-quality fresh foods in any season.

Speaking of the tourism offer of the City of Zagreb, the Dolac Market is a first-rate tourist attraction visited by many tourists throughout the year who are captivated by its special beauty.

Knowing all the aspects of the Zagreb Markets and their importance for the image and the identity of the City of Zagreb, we have no doubts about their future and our own efforts to secure it.

The Wholesale Market and the Cold Storage, which are a part of the Zagreb Markets, are located in the eastern part of the city, a 10-minute drive from downtown Zagreb. They are ideally located to serve as a daily supplier of Zagreb and its citizens with a broad assortment of products such as fruits, vegetables, meat and meat products and fish and fish products.

With more than 160 clients in two locations, it is the biggest wholesale market in Croatia, which supplies not only the City of Zagreb, but also the entire north-western Croatia.

The Wholesale Market has been operating successfully since 1957, albeit its legal status and organisation had changed over the years.