Since the rebirth of Tungsram in 2018 we have paid great attention to the solution of social issues originating from and related to our activity. We have also organised several CSR events at each of our plants. This is the third year we put together our CSR-related report to introduce our activity. On the one hand in the framework of social engagement we organise important activities (Future Talents, Fittungsram, voluntary programmes). On the other hand with human wellbeing in mind we are trying to find answers for the most pressing challenges of the present – food safety, low-energy and liveable environment, infection prevention. The global development programme of UN sets the structure of sustainable development until 2030 through 17 goals. We relate to 13 of these directly or indirectly by our business, sponsorship-related or other activity. We present our 2020 year through our activities related to social engagement in a broader sense and the UN goals in the English and Hungarian publication called CSR Report 2020. You can access and down-load the report here: https://bit.ly/3kxA7rG A limited number of reports will be soon available in printed form as well.

Our newest member is Waberer’s International Nyrt. founded in 1948., represented by  Zsolt Barna,with a nearly HUF 570 million sales revenue in 2020, with 7,000 employees. In addition to insurance services, Waberer’s International Nyrt’s main activities include contract complex logistics services and international road transport.

As part of its sustainability policy, Waberer’s International Nyrt. prioritises social and environmental responsibility. In order to achieve the lowest possible environmental impact, they are constantly working with customers who have made the use of sustainability-minded supplier partners one of their strategic goals. The Company continuously strives to operate one of the lowest average age fleets on the market, thus ensuring the lowest emissions possible. In parallel, the technological maturity of the alternative propulsion technology is continuously tested for feasibility. The regulatory and organizational basis of ethical and compliant operations is the Code of Ethics, updated on the basis of changes in the operating environment, which ensures human rights, a non-discriminatory environment and equal opportunities. In order to optimize environmental and social impacts, they use both market-based collaborations and process / organizational regulations in their operating model.

Their membership aims to exchange ideas and work with like-minded business partners and organizations for ensuring sustainable development.

After two successful rounds, SPAR has announced their third “Hungaricool by SPAR” product competition. As in previous rounds, they are looking for Hungarian products which are either newly-developed or have not yet been sold in retail chains. The company offers mentorship to the successful applicants whose products will be introduced to customers and sold in INTERSPAR stores.

“SPAR has always been an advocate for Hungarian farmers and products, and they support the Hungarian economy and trade market with initiatives like “Hungaricool by SPAR” which is launching this year for the third time. The popular and successful business initiative seeks out newly-developed or already existing Hungarian products which are not very well known, that also comply with sustainability standards. After a professional assessment, up to ten companies or sole traders will be chosen to be represented in INTERSPAR stores. This is a big market and successful applicants will also receive extensive marketing support. The previous two rounds have demonstrated the motivation of up-and-coming producers who were planning on taking their product to market. We strongly believe that this opportunity of a trustworthy partnership will attract many Hungarian producers who make competitive products to test themselves. Our customers will find the best products on the shelves of INTERSPAR stores in 2022,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The deadline for applications for the “Hungaricool by SPAR” 2022 product competition is 9 October 2021. They are hoping for applicants with unique products that are made in Hungary, have no existing distribution capability, and satisfy customer demand.  SPAR Hungary will help the winners of the food and non-food categories to go on the market by utilising 35 INTERSPAR hypermarkets.

The conditions of applications and the details of the tender are accessible on Hungaricool’s website (www.hungaricool.hu). To submit the application, the following form must be filled using the link: www.hungaricool.hu/jelentkezes.

As a strategic partner of RTL Klub’s “Cápák között” business TV show, SPAR will keep looking for contenders for the Hungaricool prize in the next season of the program, however, applicants of Hungaricool don’t need to apply to take part in the TV show to be considered. The experiences of the previous season showed that being on TV brought exceptional reach and fame for the winners of Hungaricool which helped the further success of the companies who have been selected.  ChiliYard is an example of a successful applicant who also appeared on the Cápák között TV show.

SPAR’s professional panel will pre-assess successful tenders. Like the first competition, the jury consist of professionals specialising in food and beverage production, as well as in environmentally friendly technologies or transport. The experienced mentors will make the final decision at the end of the year. There are several important criteria such as innovation and uniqueness, environmentally friendly packaging, and sustainability. When assessing marketable quality, potential customers will be able to taste products and share their opinions.

This year the winner will be notified by 30 December and will be able to attend an in-depth mentoring and training program. Following this mentoring program, the products will be on the shelves of INTERSPAR stores as soon as possible. Judit László, Commercial Manager of Házikó Farm Kft. which produces Funky Forest juices said: ”Hungaricool by SPAR program was a great opportunity for our team. We knew from the beginning that we will have to live up to some high expectations, but the quality of the training was even better than we expected. We received a professional, well-designed training program which helped us overcome some of our issues as a new company and improve our internal processes.”

Áron Bálint, owner of SPAR hypermarkets’ regular supplier Spájz Szörp Kft., emphasised that their lives have fundamentally changed due to the initiative of the retail chain. ”Hungaricool by SPAR is an innovative programme that fills a gap in the practices of retail chains.  It is a unique opportunity for brands like us. We owe them a great gratitude for their efforts. Flexibility, patience, openness, and a good understanding of the mechanisms behind business processes are attributes in a corporate culture which have an important influence on SPAR’s competitiveness.”

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

In order to simplify waste collection and make it more efficient, from this summer the company has started to print clear pictograms on the packaging of its own-brand products. This supports customers in understanding which can be put into sorted waste bins and which should go into general waste. In the first period, shoppers at SPAR will see the easily recognisable markings on almost 100 own-brand products, and in the future all the company’s private-label products will carry the icons supporting waste sorting.

“Protecting the natural environment is one of the key areas of the SPAR sustainability programme. Our company has taken many steps, from environmentally-conscious enterprise management and cutting emissions, through modernised waste management to the use of cutting-edge packaging technology. In addition to protecting environmental assets, we are also supporting our increasingly committed customer base by placing awareness-rising pictograms on our own-brand products which have packaging that either goes to sorted waste or to general waste. The informative figures and the brief information on material compositions enable customers to easily and swiftly decide which sorted or general waste bin the packaging should be put to. Following the initial batch of 91 goods, we are planning to place the marking on each of our own-brand food and beverage products,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The company aims to help customers with how to properly handle the packaging of products, how to differentiate and sort them as waste after use. Therefore in 2021, the application of internationally-recognised markings on the packaging of all newly-developed or repackaged domestic own-brand goods will contribute to giving guidance and also recyclability. The pictograms on the packaging of these products help everyone decide what can be collected in sorted bins and what cannot.

In stores of the retail chain, customers can come across five types of packaging: plastic, aluminium, paper and fibre-based covering, glass and a combined packaging solution consisting mainly of aluminium-impregnated cardboard. Today, proper technology enables most materials to be recycled economically, so their sorted collection is therefore extremely important. The own-brand products with the waste management marking are covered by most of the company’s brands – Nelly, S-Budget, SPAR, SPAR BBQ, SPAR free from, SPAR hazai szeretem, SPAR vital, Veggie – including bottled mineral waters, syrups, boil-in-bag rices, pastas, biscuits, yoghurts and ready-made meals.

Consumers can also do a lot to reduce harms to the environment. One way to do this is to properly dispose and selectively collect food packaging waste. By clarifying what is qualified as sorted and general waste, these pictograms provide accurate guidance on what should be done.

Last year, through the joint efforts of Nestlé Hungária Kft. and SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. a sustainability guidebook was also published, titled “How do I become an environmentally-conscious customer?”. In addition to the basic rules of waste management and sorted waste collection, the booklet provides useful information to readers on how to reduce the amount of packaging and food waste in their households. The booklet also provides accurate descriptions of the meaning of each standardised pictogram and also of what happens to the different types of waste.

This latest environmental initiative from SPAR Hungary encourages customers, as well as the whole society, to make sure that recoverable waste is put in the sorted waste bins. Joint action has yielded very significant results: for example, together with its customers, the retail chain has collected three times as much waste paper as it used for its own-brand products, and it also recycled the material. According to data from 2020, a 94% rate was achieved in the collection and processing of plastic film packaging waste.

The Nestlé-SPAR guidance brochure is available online at: nestle.hu/hovadobjam  andsparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/hovadobjam, and please visit www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/rovat/a-kornyezetert for additional information and advice.

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