History
Our history
We have been with you for 78 years — a period of continuous development, openness to change and looking boldly into the future. From the very beginning, we have been driven by creative energy, drawing inspiration both from artists and from you — our audience.
Our history
1948 20th century
The first MPiK Club opens on 7 October at Bagatela Street in Warsaw. This is where the idea of a place connecting culture, people and knowledge is born. Books, albums, atlases, press, and art reproductions are available in the offer. MPiK begins as a meeting space, a reading room and a window to the world.
Events from Poland and the world
• Pablo Picasso visits Warsaw
1950s 20th century
MPiK grows rapidly — we already have around 25 bookstores and reading rooms across Poland. The KMPiK in Nowa Huta earns the title of the best in Poland. We become an important channel of access to press and culture. Posters, comic books, youth and music magazines, and language-learning textbooks appear in the offer.
Events from Poland and the world
• 1950 — Radio Free Europe broadcasts its first programme in Polish
• First Polish television broadcast
1960s 20th century
This decade marks the beginning of Empik’s connection with global pop culture — the first vinyl records appear in our offer, and music becomes a key part of the brand experience. KMPiK Junior opens on Marszałkowska Street in Warsaw — a legendary store that will define the city’s cultural landscape for decades.
Events from Poland and the world
• The first Woodstock Festival
1970s 20th century
A quiz show is organised at the KMPiK in Nowa Huta, Kraków, and our stores become the backdrop for the TV programme “Press as a Source of Knowledge”, broadcast live on national television. This decade secures Empik’s place in public life. Across 69 MPiK Clubs, more than 400 press titles from around the world are available.
Events from Poland and the world
• Karol Wojtyła becomes Pope
1980s 20th century
We respond to the technological revolution. In MPiK, Poles buy their first audio cassettes and VHS tapes, and our stores become centres of home entertainment.
Events from Poland and the world
• Nobel Prize for Czesław Miłosz
• MTV is launched
• Live Aid concerts
1990s 20th century
This is a decade of profound transformation: KMPiK changes its name to Empik and we launch Empik.com, one of the first online stores in Poland. We enter the digital era, keeping the brand’s DNA while redefining how we operate. The first edition of the Empik Awards is launched, highlighting our cultural roots. At the same time, we expand our service offering — Empik Kodak Express (today Empik Foto) is established — and new product categories appear on the shelves, including multimedia, toys, board games and stationery.
Events from Poland and the world
• Google is founded
• Release of Microsoft Windows 98
• Poland connects to the internet for the first time
2000s 21st century
Empik becomes a venue for large-scale meetings with icons — from Sophia Loren to Stanisław Lem, Jackie Collins and Rammstein. The store network grows to over 100 locations, music listening zones are introduced, concert tickets become available, and Empik.com launches free delivery, setting new standards for online shopping.
Events from Poland and the world
• The first Woodstock Festival in Poland
2010s 21st century
This is a decade of dynamic growth, during which Empik strengthens its position as an omnichannel brand. The network expands to 200 stores and self-checkout kiosks appear. It is also a period of digital innovation: the Empik mobile app is launched, followed by Empik Go and the Empik Premium loyalty programme. Empik.com becomes a full-fledged marketplace, reinforcing our technology ambitions and e-commerce growth. Going. joins the Group, extending our capabilities into events and ticketing.
During this period, the Empik Bestsellers Gala is broadcast live on television for the first time, and more than 1,500 events take place annually in our stores. Our offer expands to include e-books, gadgets, collections and private-label brands. New online categories grow rapidly, including Home & Garden, Health & Beauty, Kids, Sports and Electronics.
2020s 21st century
Present day
We enter the new decade with an impressive scale of operations: the network includes over 370 stores, and the Empik marketplace offers 11 million products. We continue to develop new services and initiatives — the Design Zone, Empik Selfpublishing and Premium Pay&Go (payment in-store via the app without going to the checkout) are launched.
Future
We plan to open over 430 stores, consistently investing in the development of the network, the e-commerce platform and innovations that enhance customer convenience and experience quality.
And this is just the beginning — much more lies ahead!
