Environmental awareness, social responsibility, the appreciation of staff members, food safety and the promotion of health-consciousness are important parts of the corporate philosophy of SPAR Hungary. The company has launched future-proof programmes under this approach during the past year, which are presented in its latest sustainability report.

“Sustainability is the biggest issue and challenge of our modern age, with our future at stake, and as a responsible company we must also focus on these questions. Our environmental awareness is emphasised throughout the entire corporate system, including the areas of energy efficiency, professional waste management or the conservation of natural resources. As part of our social responsibility initiatives, we also support people in need and donate to animal welfare organisations and various social programmes. And we also care about our staff members who work day in, day out for our mutual success. We are proud to see that SPAR Hungary has been ranked 14th on the joint list of the HVG weekly magazine and the Planet Fanatics’ Network, which ranks large Hungarian corporations based on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and corporate governance (ESG) aspects.  We are carrying on with these initiatives in 2024 and we are committed to sustainability,” emphasised president and CEO Gabriella Heiszler who also oversees the SPAR sustainability strategy.

In 2019, SPAR Hungary has organised its sustainability efforts under the single umbrella brand “SPAR – for a sustainable future”, linking its priority areas relevant to sustainable development. Core values of the SPAR Group (modern, customer-focused, sustainably operating) define the day-to-day commercial activities and the way the organisation operates. Aspects of sustainability have always been definitive for the entire SPAR Group, shaping the very foundations of its business strategy.

Environmental awareness in all areas

SPAR has been conducting its trading activities with environmental impacts in mind since its establishment. Environmental awareness is reflected in the store network, logistics centres, food production facilities and at the company headquarters. The company also aims to strive for energy efficiency, professional waste management and the conservation of natural resources. In 2023, the company’s total energy consumption was cut by more than 5.5% compared to the year before. The volume of generated waste decreased by more than 1600 tonnes (i.e. 5%) compared to 2022. With the introduction of reusable rolling rack blankets in logistics, SPAR Hungary saves more than 70 tonnes of packaging material each year. Also, through partnership with Munch, customers can buy discounted food packages, reducing food waste.

Only ingredients from reliable sources are used in the SPAR system

The company lays strong emphasis on food safety across its entire range of products, ensuring that only verified products from trusted sources are available on store shelves. The retail chain complies with the requirements of international quality management standards that guarantee the highest levels of food safety.

More and more health-conscious products

SPAR is committed to promoting healthy diets. For this reason, it has launched the SPAR Lifestyle (SPAR Életmód) programme, is continuously expanding its range of products to support a healthy lifestyle, raises awareness of quality food and helps people with dietary intolerances. Surveys show that only 4% of the Hungarian population regularly takes part in sporting activities, it SPAR also promoting sports and healthy lifestyle. In this spirit, the two-day SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival has been organised again in 2013, and the company has been the brand name main sponsor of the event since 2009.

8.7 billion HUF spent on raising wages

SPAR Hungary is one of the largest employers in Hungary and the company highlights the importance of continuous professional training and remuneration of the employees. The corporation spent 8.7 billion HUF on salary increases last year. Training hours per employee increased by more than 20 percent by 2023. In 2023, SPAR Hungary was awarded the title “Reliable Employer 2023/24” by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK) for its exemplary and reliable care for the working and living conditions of its employees.

Focus area of supporting social causes

SPAR highlights the importance of supporting communities and organisations that work for social welfare causes. The company spent more than 200 million HUF on charitable causes in 2023.

The “Joy to Give!” (Adni Öröm!) Christmas fundraising campaign – which SPAR organised for the 27th time in cooperation with the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service – made the holidays of 25 000 families more joyful.  At the end of August, in the “Joy to Give!” school supplies donation campaign, shoppers also supported the school supplies collection initiative of the Charity Service of the Hungarian Order of Malta and SPAR Hungary by purchasing more than 62 000 pieces of school supplies and donation cards worth nearly 2.2 million HUF, thus contributing to the start of the school year of around 1600 pupils in need.

The partners event at the 2023 Budapest Wine Festival was organised by SPAR with the lowest possible carbon footprint: SPAR voluntarily compensated for the emissions generated by the organisation, energy consumption, travel and meals of guests by planting 392 native fruit trees.

The “Paw in Trouble!” (Mancs a bajban!) pet food donation campaign was organised in May 2023 with volunteers of more than 30 animal welfare organisations. More than 9000 kg dry pet food and 4500 pieces of canned food for dogs, as well as more than 1000 kg of dry pet food, nearly 2500 pieces of canned food, 5000 trays of food and 1355 kg of cat litter has been collected.

The objectives and results of the sustainability activities of SPAR Hungary are publicly available on the following website: www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu

A good relationship builder is always and everywhere open to conversation and always carries a business card with him, says our sales and business development director Ferenc Márton.

Ferenc Márton is working to make Mielemed MPM a major domestic player in sustainable construction technologies with the Nuxon brand. He claims that many people can be grateful for two important things: for the knowledge passed on, and because they allowed him to learn from the mistakes they made. And he likes to learn a lot, he also planned to learn one or two new skills. His knowledge and experience to date are also of great use in the Sustainability Entrepreneurs Community of the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers BPVRSZ. Csaba Szerdahelyi asked our colleague.

– What do you consider to be the peak of your career so far?

– Several times during my career, I felt that I had reached a kind of peak in my current situation or position. These were certainly top of the mountain at the time, and I don’t mean to discount them in the light of time. The fact is that it always turns out: from the reached peak, other possible peaks that can be conquered are visible. I fondly remember when, as a development engineer, I created something with my colleagues that went into production and was used by the customer for many years. My appointment as technical director and 15 years of work in that position was also a career peak at the time.

– What distance do you plan for?

– I typically have a daily-weekly-monthly planning cycle, but this is obviously operational in nature. The year is divided into two main blocks of summer vacations and year-end holidays, so my strategic plans appear here. And of course I have a plan for where I want to be in 5 or even 20 years. The latter is already a dream category, but I am convinced that we need dreams.

– What is on your professional bucket list?

– On the one hand, I want to bring Nuxon to the level that is included in the corporate vision, i.e. to become a significant domestic player in sustainable construction technologies. On the other hand, since I love learning and getting to know new things, I still “have it in me” to learn one or more new skills, even in graduate training.

– From whom have you learned the most so far?

– This is a difficult question because I am grateful to many people for two important things: for the knowledge passed on, and because they allowed me to learn from the mistakes they made. My father’s age I would single out Ferenc Márton first, because he was an exemplary value not only as a parent, but also as a professional, engineer, manager and businessman. I mention my first manager at my first job, János Gazsi, because he gave me life-long guidance in terms of the leadership approach and the importance of professional development.

– How do you motivate your colleagues?

– I think the most important thing is the continuous provision of an understandable and livable vision of the future, which also includes financial goals and personal development prospects. Leading by example and continuous high-quality communication are the other two basic things that, according to my experience, are successful motivating factors.

– In which profession would you like to try yourself?

– Aviation and space technology have always interested me. As a remote UAV pilot, I have already come a little closer to the former, but there is still endless development potential ahead of me.

– How do you build your business relationships?

– What I learned from this is that a good relationship builder is always and everywhere open to conversation and always carries a business card with him. He is always looking for an opportunity to get to know and help the other person better, and this is based on attention and interest. I work along these lines in real life, I find that it works great, and I try to transfer this to the virtual space, to online professional interfaces, which I really like anyway.

– What do you regret wasting your time on?

– Best for aimless and unnecessary discussion about ego, and this should not be confused with constructive discussion.

– What can you do to annoy me?

– Perhaps best with selfishness, which is at the expense of a community, be it a private or professional community, or even road traffic.

– What kind of volunteer work would you do?

– Even on weekdays, I try to do something for the narrower and larger communities to which I and my children belong, but what interests me is helping people who are left behind in terms of learning opportunities and living conditions.

– Why don’t you regret the money?

– For anything that represents real value to my family and me, among these I would highlight health, experience and books.

– What’s the best way to turn it off?

– Recently, hiking trips and gardening have entered this role.

We are proud of our colleague’s commitment and authentic personality, we appreciate his ownership attitude and we are grateful that we can work together for a more sustainable world, for the protection of the environment, for the preservation of the health of our society, for cleaner air – for our common dreams!

Photo: Szakács Paul