Support campaigns for cats and dogs living in shelters will continue in 2024 as part of the cooperation between SPAR Hungary and the National Animal Protection Foundation. Last year, the initiative was successful in collecting 32 000 kg dry food and more than 45 000 cans of canned pet food, among other items.

SPAR Hungary has been helping animal shelters, zoos and wildlife parks in Hungary for more than a decade by donating products that have been taken out of commercial circulation but can still be used for feeding animals. The company has also been organising animal food collection campaigns with Országos Állatvédőrség Alapítvány (National Animal Protection Foundation) for more than 10 years, to support NGOs involved in animal rescue activities. In addition to collecting donations, the aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of responsible pet-keeping and the importance of the work of shelters.

The national campaign is continued this year. Organisations involved in animal rescue can join the collection of donations through the National Animal Protection Foundation which coordinates and schedules the campaign activities. Shoppers in SPAR and INTERSPAR stores can meet the NGOs each month and support their work by donating pet food. To find out where and when the collections are taking place, you can visit the dedicated SPAR online platform available at: www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/mancsabajban

“Unfortunately, in Hungary there are many pets living in appalling conditions, roaming the streets or with irresponsible owners who do not give them attention and love, nor adequate food of sufficient quantity and quality. In many cases, domestic animal shelters are overcrowded with dogs and cats waiting for adoption, and the care of these animals requires a great deal of effort. For them, the pet food collection campaigns of SPAR and National Animal Protection Foundation, launched ten years ago and organised again last year, provide tangible help. We are very grateful to all our customers who have supported the initiative so far and will continue to do so in the future, and of course a huge acknowledgement goes to the animal rescue organisations that are constantly performing extremely important activity on the verge of their strength and possibilities,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

During the 174 donation collection events in 2023, a total of 27 344 kg of dry food, 17 704 pcs of canned food and 1216 dog salami treats were donated to puppies nationwide. And for cats, 27 814 items of canned food and pouches, as well as 4646 kg of dried food were collected. The company and the National Animal Protection Foundation organised the third “Mancs a bajban!” (Paw in trouble!) fundraising campaign in May with support from animal rescue NGOs. During these two days, activists collected almost 9000 kg of dry food and 4500 cans of canned food for dogs, as well as more than 1000 kilograms of dry food and 2500 cans for cats in 35 INTERSPAR hypermarkets across the country. In addition to this, shoppers also contributed to the success of the campaign with donating various pet supplies and cleaning products, and SPAR donated an additional 1 million HUF to the National Animal Protection Foundation.

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Four SPAR stores in Budapest will, initially on a trial basis, only offer barn, organic and free-range eggs, excluding cage eggs, from the end of January 2024. The latter have already been gradually phased out of the market, in line with EU efforts to end cage farming in the member states.

The proportion of barn, organic and free-range eggs sold in SPAR stores has gradually increased over the last decade, while the proportion of caged eggs has decreased. While e.g. in 2014, 2.24 percent of all eggs sold were in the organic category, by this year the share has doubled. The same is true for free-range eggs which have been available in SPAR stores for four years: their share has quadrupled from 0.96 percent in 2020 to nearly 4 percent of all eggs sold in 2023. The proportion of eggs from barn production has also increased dramatically, from nine out of every 100 eggs sold 10 years ago to three times that number today.

“Our supermarkets in MOM Park in Budapest, Stop Shop on Hűvösvölgyi út, the Rózsakert shopping centre on Gábor Áron út and the SPAR supermarket on Péterhegyi lejtő in District XI, will offer only barn, organic and free-range eggs from 2024, in a pilot programme. During the recent years, our company has been continuously reducing the proportion of cage eggs, in order to approach the EU target,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The range of eggs will continue to be extensive in the four designated stores, with 16 types of barn, organic and free-range products. All eggs distributed in SPAR stores come from reliable local producers. In order to allow producers, suppliers and consumers to adapt, SPAR Hungary is gradually moving towards barn, organic and free-range eggs.

Marking its 170th anniversary, the Kőbánya-based company rolls out a HUF 100 Billion development program

A groundbreaking HUF 100 billion development program, spearheaded by Asahi Group Holdings and Asahi Europe & International, promises to fortify the longevity of Dreher Breweries. Building on previous years’ investments, this newly unveiled multi-year initiative will elevate the entire beer production process. It aims not only to augment capacity and efficiency but also to fulfill the company’s rigorous sustainability objectives.

The change in ownership and management in Hungary in 2017 marked a pivotal point in the brewery’s evolution. Aligning with Asahi’s international and European strategy, the “Dreher to Dreher” philosophy was cultivated, emphasizing premiumization and harmonizing tradition with modernity in operations, product development, and corporate culture, reminiscent of the nationalization in Hungary’s communist era in 1948. Six years of meticulous developmental efforts have solidified market positions, increased employee well-being and satisfaction, optimized corporate operations, and bolstered profitability, thereby setting the stage for future investments.

“Next year, as we celebrate the 170th anniversary of the establishment of Dreher Breweries, we are reminded that our rich historical tradition, and being a four-generation workplace is not merely a source of pride, but also a testament to the responsibility, for all a responsibility for all of us, who work for the present and future of the company,” stated Gábor Békefi, CEO of Dreher Breweries. “The confidence placed in us by Asahi Group Holdings and Asahi Europe & International, manifested through our professional and business accomplishments, enables us to undertake the most substantial investment in the Hungarian beer industry to date. If we can continue to meet the Group’s business expectations and deliver on the milestones we have set, we can use this HUF 100 billion to truly build a long-term future for the factory and our employees.”

Like its predecessors, the new program will remain true to the “Dreher to Dreher” philosophy, intertwining innovation with the preservation of Hungarian beer production traditions. The 170th-anniversary celebrations next year will run concurrently with the construction and modernization projects, featuring special events at the brewery’s iconic sites and its museum. The management remains dedicated to the enduring preservation of historic buildings and unique industrial assets, paralleling their commitment to preserving the Dreher museum’s brewery relics.

The first milestone: HUF 30 billion for a sustainable manufacturing chain

Beer production traditionally involves six major steps: brewing, fermentation, conditioning, filtration, pasteurization, and bottling. The investments made over the last two years, coupled with those recently announced, span several processes. Last year, as part of a HUF 4.6 billion modernization series, compressors and filtration equipment were replaced. This spring, the efficiency of pasteurization and decanting increased with the installation of one of the most advanced aluminum can lines available, at a total cost of HUF 7 billion.

From 2023 to 2026, the company’s experts will focus on the first milestone of the HUF 100 billion investment planned for the next decade, allocating a budget of around HUF 30 billion. One of the inaugural projects is the construction of a part of the new energy center to serve all departments of the plant. This center will support not only capacity growth, but also the company’s ambitious sustainability goals. During this period, the fermentation and conditioning stages in the cellars will undergo a complete renewal, involving the replacement of tanks and the introduction of new technologies, which involves the continuous development of the skills and knowledge of the company’s employees.