The first 25 years of KÖZSZÖV

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2025/6-7.

KÖZSZÖV president Anna Zoltai opened the event, the host of which was Ákos Bősze, HoReCa business development executive of METRO.

The organiser and driving force behind the event was Anna Zoltai, President of KÖZSZÖV

Dr. Beáta Olga Felkai
deputy state secretary
Ministry of Agriculture

In her welcome speech Dr Beáta Olga Felkai, deputy state secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture called attention to how well the event was organised and to the diversity of the programme.

Frigyes Vomberg
chef, consultant

Zoltán Hamvas
president
Bocuse d’Or Akadémia

Then she and Anna Zoltai presented the 2025 Jubilee Award of Excellence for the promotion of public sector catering to Zoltán Hamvas, president of the Bocuse d’Or Academy, Frigyes Vomberg, chef and consultant and to Ákos Bősze.

Next Zsuzsanna Hermann, CEO and editor-in-chief of Trade magazin presented the magazine’s Excellence Award to Ákos Bősze, Anna Zoltai and food policy analyst and sustainability advisor Réka Szöllősi.

Yesterday and today

Dr. György Pleva
head of the food and animal feed safety directorate

In his first presentation György Pleva, head of the food and animal feed safety directorate at the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) emphasised that public sector catering plays a key role at the end of the food chain, providing meals for millions of people every day.

Zsolt Páger
vice president
KÖZSZÖV

Then György Pleva and Anna Zoltai presented the 2025 Jubilee Award of Excellence for sustainable public catering to Réka Szöllősi, Rozália Csernák, head of institution maintenance in Dabas and Zsolt Páger, vice president of KÖZSZÖV. 

In his second presentation György Pleva introduced Nébih’s No Leftovers programme.

Dr. Anikó Báti
ethnographer
Institute of Ethnography of the HUN-REN Research Centre

The next speaker was Dr Anikó Báti, ethnographer at the Institute of Ethnography of the HUN-REN Research Centre for the Humanities, who gave an entertaining yet informative lecture on the history of mass catering.

Future-shaping nutrition

Réka Szöllősi
food policy analyst, sustainability consultant

In the next presentation Réka Szöllősi gave an international overview of the world of mass catering.

Dr. Erzsébet Némedi
director
Expedit Nodum

Food engineer and biotechnologist Dr Erzsébet Némedi brought a thought-provoking presentation, explaining that billions of microorganisms work within us.

A roundtable discussion on the competition for mass catering chefs followed, moderated by Anna Zoltai, where participants talked about their efforts and experiences: József Bernáth – chef, Máté Berényi – chef trainer of the Hungast group, Zsolt Egri – gastronomy and quality control manager of Prizma, Gabriella Hartmann (MDOSZ) – dietitian and food manager, Bernadett Horváthné Wind – sensory judge and jury member, Kinga Miháldy (NNGYK) – dietitian, József Némedi – the competition’s founder and director, Mónika Patus (BVOP lieutenant colonel) – competitor, Tamás Végh – gastronomy director of the Hungast group and Frigyes Vomberg – jury member.

In connection with the discussion, József Némedi and Anna Zoltai presented the For Public Catering medals of merit to Krisztián Ambrus, József Bernáth, Gabriella Harmann, Kinga Miháldy, Balázs Nagy and Krisztián Nagy.”..

Zsuzsanna Hermann, Managing Editor-in-Chief of Trade magazine, presented the the Excellence Award – In Recognition of the Media Communication Support for Public Catering founded by the magazine to Ákos Bősze, Business Development Executive of METRO HoReCa

KÖZSZÖV shows the way

Dr. Enikő Szabó
deputy chief
medical officer

On the second day deputy chief medical officer Dr Enikő Szabó gave the opening speech. She emphasised the role mass catering plays in the development of public health indicators.

Zsófia Dobos
vice president
KÖZSZÖV

KÖZSZÖV vice president Zsófia Dobos talked about how the association provides professional support to its members in their everyday lives.

Anna Zoltai and Dr Enikő Szabó presented the For Public Catering medals of merit to Andrea Zentai, head of department at the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK), Anikó Rózsás, former president of KÖZSZÖV, Katalin Vígné Sági, head dietitian, József Némedi, creator and director of the KÖSZ chef competition and Tamás Végh, organiser of the KÖSZ competition. 

Andrea Zentai
head of department
NNGYK

Andrea Zentai introduced how the centre supports public sector catering.

Dávid Tóth
head of department
Nébih

Dávid Tóth, head of department at Nébih gave a presentation on the past, present and future of mass catering from a food safety perspective.

Real synergies

Zsuzsanna Szűcs
president
MDOSZ

Zsuzsanna Szűcs, president of the Hungarian Dietetic Association (MDOSZ) spoke about the important role dietitians play in public sector catering.

Dr. Pál Kovács
member of the presidency
KÖZSZÖV

Economist and member of the KÖZSZÖV presidency Dr Pál Kovács gave a presentation introducing the operating model of public catering. KÖZSZÖV vice president Zsolt Páger talked about the future of child nutrition. Un

iversity professor and clinical psychologist Dr Attila Forgács gave a presentation on the psychology of eating. Dietitian and sociologist Emese Antal was the moderator of the anniversary roundtable discussion on KÖZSZÖV.

Participants of the Thursday round table discussion moderated by Emese Antal: Zsófia Dávid-Dobos, Anna Zoltai, Julianna Smidné Vereb, Anikó Rózsás, András Stigrád and György Ambrus

The participants were György Ambrus – board member, Zsófia Dávid-Dobos and Zsolt Páger – vice-presidents of KÖZSZÖV, Julianna Smidné Vereb – former board member, András Stigrád – board member, Anikó Rózsás – former president and Anna Zoltai – current president of KÖZSZÖV. Founding president Edit Balázsné Otlecz and her successor, Ferenc Szűcs were unable to attend due to illness, but they sent letters welcoming the conference. Edit Blázsné Otlecz and Ferencné Szűcs also received For Public Catering medals of merit.