More conscious spending dominates during the holidays – this is how SPAR responds

With the Christmas period approaching, the products of the holiday season have already appeared in the SPAR group’s stores, adapting to the increasingly earlier needs of customers: the purchase of gifts and holiday ingredients is expected to begin earlier than usual. Price sensitivity remains decisive, which is why the company places special emphasis on favorable prices and offers in addition to a rich selection.

“This season, we are simultaneously paying attention to seasonality, price-sensitive decisions and convenience aspects. The goal remains the same: everyone can find the products they need for the holiday quickly, in an inspiring environment and with a good price-value ratio – from baking ingredients to gift giving. The strengthening of the private label selection and the holiday novelties both serve this endeavor,” said Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary.

Holiday rush and flexible opening hours

During the holiday season, the range and services of SPAR and INTERSPAR stores are even wider than usual, so that everyone can find the perfect gift and ingredients. The company expects increased interest in the food and non-food categories during the Advent weeks, especially in electronics and household products.

In order to best serve customer needs in view of the holidays, SPAR has decided on extended opening hours as follows:

• The majority of SPAR and City SPAR supermarkets will be open until at least 8 p.m. on 20.12.2025 and until at least 6 p.m. on 21.12.2025;
• The majority of INTERSPAR hypermarkets will be open until 10 p.m. between 19.12.2025 and 23.12.2025.

In response to customer and employee needs On 24.12.2025, stores will be open until 12 noon. On 31.12.2025, SPAR and City SPAR supermarkets will be open until 2 pm, and INTERSPAR hypermarkets until 4 pm. The following are exceptions:

• stores located in shopping centers, which in some cases will operate with longer opening hours;
• OMV-SPAR express and ORLEN-DESPAR stores located at gas stations, which in many cases have 0-24-hour opening hours;
• some SPAR partner and SPAR market franchise stores, the opening hours of which are decided by the store owners.

Convenience first

The secret to convenient holiday preparation in many households lies in quick, yet tasty solutions. More and more people are choosing SPAR’s fresh, mayonnaise salads, as these classic favorites offer homemade flavor and reliable quality for every occasion. Thanks to carefully selected ingredients, customers can always count on guaranteed delicious, consistent quality – just as if it were made at home. SPAR’s enjoy. plant in Üllő has rethought its lédig salads and has changed the most popular and seasonal mayonnaise salads – French salad, apple and cheese corn salad, egg salad – to 1 kg, and mayonnaise potato salad to 0.5 kg, labeled, unit-priced packages, so customers can add their favorites to their baskets without queuing. The company is preparing significant quantities for December: 40 tons of French salad, 12.5 tons of egg salad, 3.8 tons of sausage salad, 2.5 tons of lentil salad, 3.5 tons of korhely salad, 16 tons of apple and cheese corn salad and 13 tons of potato salad will leave the plant. Casino eggs, ham rolls and cheese rolls on a bed of French salad are back in the range in a 6-piece tray, and the season’s favorite, lentil salad, is available in half-kilo packages.

A Christmas rich in fish

The range caters to both traditional and modern holiday tastes: carp, African catfish, salmon, trout, shrimp, tuna and cod are also in the repertoire. In December, a total of nearly 50 tons of ultra-fresh products arrive in the SPAR network, so both the usual favorites and holiday specialties are available. Carp and salmon continue to be the most popular choices in Hungarian households, followed by African catfish and trout. There is growing interest in the premium products available, especially smoked and sliced ​​delicacies and caviar products.