As result of the proceedings of the Hungarian Competition Authority, the retail chain establishes a new regional partnership programme for Hungarian small producers and small enterprises. The vast market provided through directly supporting domestic farmers and small family enterprises, and the nationwide network of the company, also enables creating new jobs. Shoppers will be identify these products from the red apple logo and the “Régiók Kincsei” (Treasures of Regions) label in SPAR stores.

“Our company prioritises supporting Hungarian producers and enterprises, domestic agriculture, which is demonstrated by the fact that almost 90% of all the food products we distribute are sourced from Hungary. The newly-formed network of local small suppliers will further contribute to this in practice. This establishes new purchasing and distribution routes, in addition to the existing sales channels. The Treasures of Regions (Régiók Kincsei) initiative provides tangible support to small family enterprises and private businesses trading with locally-produced agricultural products to take a step forward,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

Following the proceedings of the competition authority, SPAR is developing a new regional supplier system in 2021, with implementation fully completed by 2022. The program with a budget of 1.7 billion HUF will increase the sales opportunities of Hungarian small producer suppliers, and will also create new jobs. The aim of the new supplier system integrate many small suppliers carrying out top-quality production activities at the regional level.

The initiative seeks small Hungarian suppliers and producers that provide high-quality domestic products at affordable prices, and ensure product availability in the long term. They are viewed as a well-known and respected enterprises, “Local Heros” in their region, and they set examples for others with their products and activities, creating value that is compatible with SPAR’s corporate principles.

The programme directly supports strengthening local economies. The development effectively contributes to introducing domestic products to the market, which follow traditions and ensure quality and craftsmanship, providing small producers with an opportunity to develop, and also guides the international retail chains to increase the proportion of Hungarian products on their shelves compared to imported products. This initiative also aims to find the shortest supply route, contributing to sustainable economy and production. So far, the “Treasures of Regions” initiative is creating 23 new jobs at SPAR by the end of 2022 and it is also expected to increase employee numbers of the suppliers.

In order to extend the sales opportunities of local small producer suppliers, SPAR gradually establishes six regional supplier centres in major towns, including Nyíregyháza, Pécs and Győr, as well as Székesfehérvár, Zalaegerszeg and Hódmezővásárhely. The centres are already opening in the latter towns in 2021. The regional system targets new micro, small and medium enterprise suppliers in 90%, and also means an extension of current small producer partnerships of the chain. In addition, it improves the chances of domestic small local producers as a whole, supports the development of the local economy and stimulates the demand for local products. The company is also creating a “supplier academy”: it also helps suppliers with training in quality assurance, logistics, warehousing and marketing.

10-13 SPAR stores located in the vicinity of the county regional centres are linked to the new programme. These are selected to make sure that based on base area and retail space, range of products and turnover they can be the most efficient to support the initiative. The selection of the units also takes into consideration sales experience and ideal logistics routes. Producers that meet the requirements of regular goods delivery are primarily sought after based on the latter criteria, as it is in the common interest – of the new partner, the company and the customers – to get the products on the shelves as soon as possible, keeping in mind the quality guarantee as well. In each case, the retail chain relies on the local resources and capacities of the regions of each centre.

The company has established a dedicated interface for those who wish to join the SPAR supplier family. It is easy to apply using the already operating www.beszport.spar.hu website, by providing the requested information. The targeted provision of information to customers related to local goods is supported by dedicated awareness-raising goods dispensers in the stores – shelves in the INTERSPAR hypermarkets and display booths in the SPAR supermarkets. A website assisting customers is also operated, available through the following link: www.spar.hu/regiokkincsei.

SPAR considers it very important that according to the plans, following the complete establishment of the system, at least a hundred small producers will become supplier partners of the corporation, thus also extending the range of goods with domestic products. The addition of products designated with the red apple logo, from producers known by local residents will contribute to shopping experience and will develop a more direct connection between the stores and the consumers.

For more information please contact:

Márk Maczelka, head of communications

SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. ∙ 2060, Bicske, SPAR út

Mobile: +36 20 823 7891 ∙ E-mail: maczelka.mark@mmspar.hu

The retail chain will launch a series of ten animated mini films for kids in kindergartens and primary schools in September. The mini films will tell stories using children’s language about topics on sustainability such as selective waste collection, or food waste management.

“Over the past two years, our company has been developing a strategic framework to summarise the social and environmental issues needed for a sustainable future. We have invested significant intellectual and financial resources in this program to ensure we take effective action, and together with our customers we have introduced several measures such as emission reduction, and waste management that significantly reduced our environmental impact. We believe in the importance of raising awareness, built on a foundation of easily understandable information. Since it is never too early to start raising awareness in environmental consciousness, we would like to engage kids in kindergartens and primary schools with our SPAR ÖKO KALAND (SPAR ECO ADVENTURE) animated mini film series. These ten short episodes introduce the topics of selective (sorted) waste management and disposable plastic materials in an engaging and educative way. Furthermore, the films touch on other important issues such as fundraising to help others, or food waste management,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The store chain has launched its action plan framework containing issues concerning sustainable development in 2019. The main pillars of the system named “SPAR – for a sustainable future” are environmental protection, promotion of healthy lifestyles, food safety, employee support, and social responsibility.

The new SPAR ÖKO KALAND (SPAR ECO ADVENTURE) project launching this September, is another milestone in the ongoing commitment to sustainability. During the ten 40-second long animated episodes, the characters symbolising the elements of the Earth (Wind, Water, Fire, Earth and Heart), go on different instructive adventures. Kids of a young age will easily understand more complex issues such as the importance of a healthy diet, the impact of the use of non-disposable products, and the support of Hungarian products through these short, cheerful videos containing easily digestible pictures and videos. All five characters were assigned two episodes each, built around funny stories that are easy to understand, that start with a situation introduced in a playful way and will finish with a clear message on the subject of sustainability.

The animated mini film series will be promoted on the online channels of SPAR, including Facebook, Instagram and Youtube, as well as the sustainability website: www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/okokaland

For more information please contact:

Márk Maczelka, head of communications

SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. ∙ 2060, Bicske, SPAR út

Mobile: +36 20 823 7891 ∙ E-mail: maczelka.mark@spar.hu

September 20, 2021. Budapest – The National Bay Zoltán Applied Research Institute Network was formed in the Ministry of Information and Technology, with the participation of the Minister for Innovation and Technology, Prof. Dr. Palkovics László. Founding members of the Network are: Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Kft., ÉMI Nonprofit Kft., KTI Nonprofit Kft. and Autóipari Próbapálya Zala Kft.

The aim and mission of the Network is to support its members and the Hungarian national economy in increasing their competitiveness, through the coordination of applied research and development, and entrepreneurial activities of the affiliated institutions. In conjunction with the strengthening of the competitiveness of its members and the national economy, the Network’s clear aim is to exploit the synergies between its members and to support the knowledge and technology transfer, and also to emphasize an interdisciplinary approach. The Network also aims to strengthen the competiveness of the Hungarian national economy by involving new entrants, and to encourage the creation of high value added jobs.

„I look forward to working with the members of the Network with great excitement and enthusiasm. It is in the mutual interest of us all to use our research and infrastructural resources with plans in sight, facilitating the most efficient use and sharing of available capacities, thus providing direct professional support for the research and business activities of the members.” – said Dr. Grasselli Norbert, Managing Director of Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Kft., and Head of the Network for its first year.

The synergies between the competences of the Network members are already visible. All of the members are currently involved in several „green” projects, which will mean visible and tangible results for the industry in the near future, such as raw materials for building, alternative transportation resources, the application of smart technologies, and the reuse of secondary raw materials.

To reach net zero by 2050, aviation must accelerate use and supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Shell supports the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow’s coalition ambition of 10% global jet fuel supply to be SAF by 2030. Achieving this ambition demands widescale collaboration between all the players in the aviation ecosystem and all who benefit from flight.
However, SAF production and supply can only increase where there are clear demand signals and Shell believes that national and international policies will play a crucial role in creating the necessary market conditions to stimulate demand and infrastructure development. We are committed to playing our part and are working to ensure SAF accounts for at least 10% of our sales by 2030. And we have just announced our aim to produce around 2 million tonnes of SAF a year by 2025.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shell-aviation_to-reach-net-zero-by-2050-aviation-must-activity-6846507127297589248-OpmG/

The retail chain has received new awards in professional competitions, the submissions have won in both the hypermarket and supermarket categories. The INTERSPAR store in Dunaújváros has been selected as “Hypermarket Store of the Year 2021” and SPAR also won the “Supermarket chain of the Year 2021” prize and became authorised to carry the “Retailer of The Year 2021” logo and to use the same title. Additionally, the company was also awarded the “Symbol of Sustainability 2021” acclaim from Trade magazine and won the Commercial Niveau Prize for Hungarian Products.

“Awards, as recognitions from professionals and the public, are important to us because they demonstrate and confirm the validity of our business policy and corporate philosophy. Our work, the developments and investments under the banner of social and environmental compliance, as well as our initiatives are all linked to our traditions, and they designate the place of SPAR in the world of the 21st century. I am very proud that our company’s solutions have been selected among the best in the hypermarket and supermarket categories of the acclaimed StarStore – Trader of the Year 2021 competition. I am very grateful to all my colleagues, the community of the retail chain, as these acclaims mostly honour their sacrificial, conscientious work,” said Gabriella Heiszler, managing director at SPAR Hungary.

In the “StarStore – Trader of the Year 2021” competition organised by Trade magazine, the application of the company titled “Modern solutions and extra assortment at the Dunaújváros INTERSPAR” enabled the store modernised last year with the budget of almost 1.8 billion HUF to win the “Hypermarket Store of the Year 2021” title. Shared with another company, this unit has earned the highest score for its range of goods and services in all the categories of the competition of stores, and therefore it is authorised to carry the “Store of The Year 2021” title.

In the competition of retail chains, with the application project titled “SPAR Hungary, the pillar of Hungarian retail trade!”, SPAR has also been awarded the “Supermarket chain of the Year 2021” title. Based on the summarised scores of the retail chains, the company has also received the main prize of the professional panel (shared with another applicant) and became authorised to carry the “Retailer of The Year 2021” logo and to use the same title.

The panel emphasised the importance of the range of goods fully complying with special dietary needs, the creative and innovative content and the role of the company in Hungarian retail trade, including the support of domestic goods and Hungarian producers.

The “Symbol of Sustainability 2021” competition is also coordinated by Trade magazine, and the company’s projects titled “Hungaricool by SPAR supports market entry of Hungarian enterprises” and “Craft products of the Hungarian Maltese Charity in the SPAR Hungary stores” were also awarded. In the justification issued by the professional panel, the active contribution of the chain to social causes, support of people in need and Hungarian enterprises was praised. In addition to traditional forms, SPAR constantly seeks new routes and means to support efficient social care and the domestic market. The sustainability symbol awards evaluated the company’s work in the field as excellent.

At one of the key events of the profession, the Business Days in Tapolca, SPAR Hungary was also given the Commercial Niveau Prize for Hungarian Products. The high-ranking acclaim is awarded to the trade company that has contributed the most to the marketability and promotion of domestic products, based on the votes of producer companies using the Magyar Termék (Hungarian Product) trademark. The company especially appreciates this acclaim since it is awarded by the companies and partners it collaborates with in everyday business practice.

Images attached to the press release are available in higher resolution, after a quick registration in SPAR Médiatár, at the address http://mediatar.spar.hu/. The interface also enables downloading additional public images from SPAR. When using the images, please credit the photos to “spar.hu”.

For more information please contact:

Márk Maczelka, head of communications

SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. ∙ 2060, Bicske, SPAR út

Mobile: +36 20 823 7891 ∙ E-mail: maczelka.mark@spar.hu