SPAR invested nearly 220 million forints in social initiatives in 2025

For more than three decades, corporate social responsibility, charitable initiatives, and community support have been an integral part of SPAR Hungary’s corporate culture. In 2025, the retail chain continued to support thousands of families in need through school supply and non-perishable food collections, while also backing programmes in healthcare, animal welfare, culture, and sport. In total, SPAR Hungary invested nearly 220 million forints in social initiatives in 2025.

Collaboration to support families in need

In 2025, SPAR Hungary, together with its strategic partner, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, continued its multi-faceted collaboration, providing tangible assistance to those in need with active customer participation. During the “A Joy to Give!” school supply collection campaign, customers donated tens of thousands of school items to support children from disadvantaged families and also contributed by purchasing donation cards. Contributions from donation cards raised nearly 2 million forints, which SPAR supplemented with an additional HUF 1 million. As a result of a four-day in-store collection campaign at INTERSPAR hypermarkets, nearly 100,000 school supplies and other educational materials were delivered to families in need via the charity, ensuring that around 1,800 children were well-prepared to start the new school year in September.

“A Joy to Give!” Christmas food collection remained a highlight in 2025. A total of 148 SPAR and INTERSPAR stores participated, with customers donating 208 tonnes of non-perishable food. Contributions via donation cards raised nearly 5.5 million forints, which supporters supplemented with an additional 7 million forints through the Adomanyozz.hu platform. From these combined donations, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta prepared approximately 25,000 food parcels, which were delivered to families in need before the holidays.

As part of the strategic partnership, SPAR continued its food rescue programme in 2025. Over 1 million kilograms of fruit, vegetables and other food items withdrawn from sale but still suitable for consumption were distributed to those in need through the charity. The programme not only provides vital support to vulnerable communities but also contributes to reducing food waste.

SPAR also provides customers with continuous opportunities to support those in difficult situations. Donation cards valued at 200 or 500 forints, available at checkouts in aid of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, allow anyone to easily contribute to helping families in need. In this way, the power of collective action is felt even during everyday shopping.

Comprehensive support for the recovery of people living with leukaemia

As part of its corporate social responsibility, SPAR Hungary has been supporting the “Let’s Help Children and Patients with Leukaemia” public benefit foundation for more than a decade. The organisation aids children and adults living with leukaemia and other haematopoietic diseases through support, donations, and 1% personal income tax contributions. In addition to direct financial support, the company also helps the foundation’s activities by providing visibility and communication opportunities in its stores, as well as space for activities related to charitable programmes.

Sport and solidarity

SPAR Hungary has been committed for many years to promoting an active lifestyle and physical activity. One of the highlights of this effort is the SPAR Budapest Marathon® Festival, one of the country’s largest recreational sports events, in which the company has participated for years as the title sponsor. In 2025, tens of thousands of runners took part in the race, including numerous SPAR employees who represented the company community across various distances. To support the physical and mental well-being of its employees, the company again provided free entry for colleagues to participate in any race distance. Preparing for and participating in the event together not only strengthens a health-conscious mindset but also contributes to the sense of community and cohesion within the company.

The sporting event also carried a social message: for every participating employee, SPAR donated 2,000 forints to the Budapest Bike Maffia Association, which aims to support the daily lives of vulnerable and homeless people.

Shaping customer mindset and promoting a conscious lifestyle

An important element of SPAR Hungary’s social responsibility is shaping customer mindset and supporting conscious decision-making. In 2025, the company launched several initiatives that provide practical guidance for adopting a health-conscious and sustainable lifestyle in everyday life. The year-long educational campaign by SPAR and Nestlé supported the long-term implementation of New Year’s lifestyle resolutions. The digital year planner offered inspiring stories, practical advice, and easy-to-follow tips each month to help consumers develop a healthier and more sustainable way of life. Each month, the content was complemented with recipes based on easily accessible, affordable ingredients, shopping lists, and dietary information. The online planner was promoted through the MySPAR app and the digital channels of SPAR and Nestlé.

Shaping mindset also targets the youngest age groups: in 2025, the highly successful SPAR ECO ADVENTURE animated series returned with new episodes. The series, previously aimed at preschool and early school-age children, was expanded with seven new episodes that address environmentally conscious everyday life in a playful and understandable way. The episodes cover topics such as selective waste collection, healthy lifestyles, reducing food waste, and avoiding single-use plastics. The animated series is available on SPAR Hungary’s YouTube channel and at sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu.

The aim of these initiatives is to provide customers, regardless of age, with knowledge and motivation to make more conscious and responsible decisions in their everyday lives.

SPAR stands up for animal welfare

SPAR Hungary has been supporting domestic animal welfare organisations for more than a decade, and in 2025 it contributed to the care of animals living in shelters through numerous initiatives. The retail chain helped the organisations by regularly donating products withdrawn from commercial sale but still suitable for feeding animals, so that food donations reached several hundred animal welfare organisations across the country during the year.

In addition, the company has worked for years in close professional cooperation with the National Animal Welfare Foundation. One of the most important elements of this partnership is the “Paw in Trouble!” nationwide pet food collection campaign, which in 2025 was held for the fifth time in INTERSPAR hypermarkets. Within the framework of this charitable initiative, customers were able to hand over their donations directly to volunteers from more than thirty participating shelters and animal welfare organisations. Last year’s collection also achieved outstanding results, and SPAR Hungary supplemented the programme with an additional 1 million forints in financial support, reinforcing its long-term commitment to animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

SPAR also provides animal welfare organisations with opportunities throughout the year to organise donation drives in its stores. The company’s open cooperation strengthens the visibility of civil organisations and creates a direct connection between customers and the supported causes.

Events organised with a conscious environmental approach

SPAR Hungary continued its practice of striving to reduce environmental impact when organising certain key corporate events. As part of this, the related estimated CO₂ emissions are calculated and monitored with the involvement of independent experts. Over the past years, the company has consciously incorporated expert recommendations from previous years into its event organisation practices, resulting in a measurable reduction in calculated carbon emissions. In addition, the company contributes to longer-term environmental goals by financing a native tree planting project.

SPAR’s “Regional Treasures” programme supports small businesses

In 2025, SPAR Hungary’s Regional Treasures programme further strengthened the market presence of domestic small producers and small businesses. Launched four years ago, the initiative now offers a total of around 550 products from 125 domestic suppliers across the store network, allowing customers to choose from an increasing number of local specialties in their everyday shopping. The range currently includes products across 23 categories: in addition to dairy products, pasta, cold cuts, jams and honey, it also features cold-pressed oils, craft beers, wines, pickles, preserves and various sweets. The programme aims to provide smaller food producers with a stable sales opportunity while enabling customers to access high-quality domestic products. Beyond product sales, SPAR also supports its partners with professional and digital assistance, contributing to the development of their operations and increasing their market competitiveness. The initiative also helps stimulate the local economy and create jobs: businesses participating in the programme collectively provide livelihoods for over 800 people. In this way, Regional Treasures delivers value simultaneously to customers, domestic producers, and local communities.

Supporting community causes

Through the SPAR Helping Hands grant system, many civil organisations also received support last year. The programme provides an opportunity for both local and nationwide causes to access funding. As a result, the initiative strengthens community cohesion and the stability of the civil sector.