SPAR Hungary has reported a very positive year despite the extraordinary challenges caused by the pandemic, with annual sales reaching €2.10 billion, marking a considerable growth of 8.7% compared to 2019.
A total of 500 new jobs were created, taking the total number of employees to over 14,000.
Highlights of the year were the expansion of several logistics centres, improvements within the retail network, and the acquisition of a meat factory in Perbál in November.
SPAR Hungary also invested a total of €78.3 million in strengthening its business.
Store Network
As of end of year 2020, the group operates 588 stores in different formats, including company-owned Interspar and SPAR stores, forecourt outlets, and independently owned stores.
The retailer added two SPAR Supermarkets and two SPAR City stores to its portfolio of company-owned stores. The company also modernised fourteen existing stores.
Twenty-one independently owned stores also joined the SPAR operator’s store network, increasing the total number to 207.
Independently owned stores achieved a total turnover of more than €182 million, employing almost 1,800 SPAR colleagues.
Online Shop
SPAR Hungary’s online shop, first launched in 2019, is currently accessible to over 2 million Hungarians. Due to the increase in demand, the company expanded the number of team members involved in the e-commerce business to 144 and added more delivery slots.
With home delivery and drive-in pick-up becoming increasingly popular, the chain also expanded its e-commerce capabilities by adding new locations. Interspar Tatabánya now offers on-site pick-up, while a SPAR store in the Lake Velence area now features a home delivery service.
SPAR Hungary also expanded on its meat production capacity and acquired the Perbál meat factory from ZIMBO Perbál Húsipari Termelő Kft in November.
In 2020, it expanded its logistics centres in Bicske by 3,400 square metres and in Üllő by 7,900 square metres to meet the requirements of the growing store network.
Sustainability
In 2020, SPAR Hungary supported various social organisations by donating more than €500,000. For more than 20 years, it has been supporting people in need through its ‘Joy to Give’ Christmas donation campaign. This year, it donated approximately €98,000.
Sustainability is high on the group's agenda, with a focus on the reduction of plastic waste. SPAR also encourages shoppers to act more sustainably by providing information on a sustainable lifestyle, sustainable transport, and by encouraging consumers to assess the impact of their ecological footprint.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
