Adaptation and renewal
Recent challenges have forced the domestic wholesale sector to keep adapting to market needs and economic changes.
This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2024/10
In addition to a commitment to innovation, firms are increasingly looking for new products and markets and are seeking to expand their portfolios. Digitalisation and the introduction of automated systems are key drivers not only for greater efficiency, but also for building new sales channels. Winning and retaining customer trust has become more important than ever. Professional customer service and the development of individual partnerships are essential to remain competitive. Companies are upgrading their technological infrastructure too. On the following pages, some of Trade magazin’s partners, wholesalers, distributors and importers summarise the latest developments. //
Selected coffee specialities
Anita Kotsis-Babková
managing director
AG Foods Hungary
AG Foods Hungary Kft. provides a full range of coffee, tea, soft drinks and seasonal beverages in more than 100 hotels, 135 bakeries, 100 offices and catering establishments. It supports its partners with advanced technology and tailor-made solutions.
“For those who prefer classic flavours, we offer a selection of coffees from two renowned roasters in Italy, under our ENZO BENCINI brand”,
says managing director Anita Kotsis-Babková.
Her experience is that conscious consumers are also looking for aromas reminiscent of flowers and fruits, spicy fragrances, citrusy acidity or the taste of chocolate and cocoa in a cup of coffee. For them they recommend the tailor-made blends of the company’s artisan roaster in Hungary. //
Focus on satisfying customer needs professionally
István Czírbusz
owner responsible
for trade
Baromfiudvar 2002
Baromfiudvar 2002 Kft. is the largest member company of Mirbest Group. One of their key projects in 2023 was organising the Mirbest Gastro Expo, which was a huge success among both supplier partners and customers.
“The momentum of the expo accompanied us throughout the season, which fundamentally determined the sales results of our financial year”,
informs István Czírbusz, owner of the company, who is responsible for trade.
2024 is about digitalisation and online developments. They will soon open a new sales channel: the WebRend online ordering platform. Baromfiudvar 2002 Kft.’s sales representative and customer service network is one of the strongest elements in the services portfolio. //
Guardians of high quality
Lajos Kovács
managing director
Biomark
For Biomark Kft. the relationship with retailers is of paramount importance, by this ensuring a continuous and reliable food supply for their partners. The company takes extra care to guarantee that the highest quality products reach the shelves and from there the tables of customers.
“Our objective is to take FMCG products to our customers on time and in the best possible condition. For this a perfectly functioning logistics network, the best storage and strong partnerships are essential”,
explains managing director Lajos Kovács.
Nearly 110 private label items make it possible to supply retail outlets with affordable but premium products. The company is a member of FÁN Group Kft. //
A dynamic start and a busy 2024
Krisztina Páll
marketing manager
BrandVibes Distribution
BrandVibes Distribution was established in the autumn of 2023, with the goal of entering the Hungarian FMCG market with a quality portfolio focusing on the confectionery and spirits segments.
“Although 2023 was only our first year, we soon became the Hungarian distributor of Felföldi Édességipari Kft., supplying several major retail chains and entering the market with great momentum. In January 2024 we launched the bvnagyker.hu webshop for HoReCa units and retailers, and in July we started brandvibes.hu for consumers”,
informs marketing manager Krisztina Páll.
What the two platforms have in common is fast and accurate delivery and a large selection of products. //
Everything from the same place
Dr. Richárd Andrejszki
CEO
Chef Market
Every year Chef Market focuses on improving the level of services offered to HoReCa partners.
“By consciously building, we are constantly increasing our sales. In particular we are developing our One Stop Shopping service. Our aim is to offer our partners solutions that make it possible to avoid fragmenting their business across several suppliers, and preferably allow them to order all key products from one source. We have implemented a number of innovations over the past year, which we will continue this year. These include increasing the capacity of our warehouses and the number of delivery vehicles, as well as the regular training of our staff”,
informs CEO Dr Richárd Andrejszki. //
New partnerships, exciting news
András Tripolszky
commercial director
NEFT vodka, CE
DunaPro (DP Drinks Professional Distribution Kft., from 2024 DunaPro Brands Kft.) had an outstanding year in 2023, which was also the first full year as the exclusive Hungarian distributor of the Campari Group.
“We also managed to enter into an exclusive partnership with the Lithuanian MV Group, and we sold more than half a million bottles of their Ready to Drink/Ready to Serve alcoholic drink, MIX”,
says commercial director András Tripolszky.
The company started selling the Austrian vodka NEFT, a super-premium spirit in aluminium barrel packaging. In 2025 DunaPro Brands will bring one of Britain’s leading premium tonic brands, Fentimans and one of the most unique Italian gins, Portofino to the Hungarian market. //
Growth and renewal
Tamás Burkus
managing director
FCB Hungary
FCB Hungary Zrt., a 100% Hungarian-owned firm, has been operating as a distributor in Hungary for more than 12 years and it is also present in Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic through its subsidiaries.
“In 2023 we continued our dynamic development. One of our biggest achievements was that the German eco-friendly Frosch range earned the Green Brand certificate for another two years – for the fourth time in a row”,
says managing director Tamás Burkus.
Despite a general decline in retail sales this year, the company continues to show dynamic growth compared to the same period last year. A new sales and marketing Director, Zoltán Eszéki joined the team in July 2024. //
Dynamism, flexibility and cohesion
István Ottó Foltin
owner
Foltin Globe
Foltin Globe was founded by István Ottó Foltin 35 years ago. The Hungarian-owned family business is a leading player in food import and distribution – with an uninterrupted growth.
“Our portfolio is reviewed annually and optimised according to customer needs and market trends. In addition to the HoReCa and gastronomy wholesale channels, we also have an increasing number of returning customers in the B2B sector”,
says István Ottó Foltin, owner of Foltin Globe Kft.
He believes that the company’s improving results are driven by cohesive professional teamwork and the commitment of employees. As adapting to changing consumption habits is key, the company makes sure to always respond flexibly and quickly. //
Stable operation resting on several pillars
Kitti Pipó
brand manager
Foodnet
Since its foundation in 2009, Foodnet Zrt. has been one of the leaders in the Hungarian packaged food distribution industry.
“We are the domestic distributor of big international manufacturers such as Arla and Müller. Although the current economic situation doesn’t favour premium brands, we are proud that the hard work of the past years has provided our products with a solid foundation”,
says Kitti Pipó, brand manager of Foodnet Zrt.
In response to the restructuring in retail, the company is putting more emphasis on the discounter and e-commerce channels, plus they are targeting small independent retail outlets through the continuous and focused development of their wholesale network. //
New-generation HoReCa supplier in the gastronomy market
Zoltán Máté Gödry
owner and CEO
HELIT
Helit Kft. is the market leader in the HoReCa sector of Budapest and Pest County, placing great emphasis on the quality of its services and personalisation, and on the incorporation of individual needs in the innovation of services, product development and the expansion of the product portfolio. The company is a stable and reliable supplier of food products to restaurants, hotels, cafés and various catering establishments.
“Digitalisation is an integral part of our daily work. This is why we also have a webshop, launched in autumn 2022, where our partners can place their orders quickly and easily, and can also browse the wide range of products efficiently”,
says owner and CEO Zoltán Máté Gödry. //
The key to success is continuous innovation
Gábor Horváth
commercial director
Halker
Halker has been a food retailer since 1990.
“Once again last year we could be proud of a number of innovations. In April 2024 we launched our webshop, which has already produced good results. Here we can also provide customers with personalised offers and promotions, offering a quick and precise solution in a fast-paced world”,
says commercial director Gábor Horváth.
In the coming year the company will maintain its partner-centric commercial approach and continue to focus on developing private labels. The Mirbest Gastro Expo will be held again in March 2025, which will offer an even better professional experience for visitors than in previous years. //
Market expansion planned after a strong year
Imre Pulai
managing director
Heinemann Testvérek
In 2023 Heinemann Testvérek Kft. had its most successful year despite the well-known economic difficulties, approaching net sales of HUF 10bn.
“We produced growth in in all product categories. From the manufacturers we represent the products of Suntory Global Spirits (SGS), Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark bourbon whiskies and Roku premium gin all performed exceptionally well”,
says managing director Imre Pulai.
In 2024 their main objective is to offer effective synergies and satisfy the needs of partners in the spirits, wine and premium soft drink categories with internationally renowned brands – in the value for money, standard and premium categories alike. //
Flavours of the world in the Hungarian market
Mesimeris Stavros
owner
Hellas-Invest
Hellas-Invest Kft. was established in 2008 and it is a Hungarian distributor of authentic Greek food products.
“The Greek producers we represent make unadulterated traditional Greek food from quality ingredients, in compliance with strict food safety requirements. We now offer excellent products not only from Greece, but also from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Mexico and Thailand”,
informs Stavros Mesimeris, owner of Hellas-Invest Kft.
In 2024 the company became the distributor for two new manufacturers (JUMBO and snack maker LOTTO), bringing the total number of food companies they represent to 32. Their flagship EL SABOR tortilla chips and dips can now be bought in more than 80 countries. //
Development in the spirit of sustainability
Róbert Jakab
CEO
Kedvenc Kereskedőház
Kedvenc Kereskedőház Zrt. continued with its development projects in 2023, opening a new, modern 3,000m2 warehouse in Kecskemét.
“Construction works have also started on our new office buildings in Kecskemét and Gyöngyös. Our fleet of vehicles has been renewed, with the acquisition of nearly 50 new vehicles, which will make our operations more economical and environmentally friendly”,
explains Róbert Jakab, CEO of Kedvenc Kereskedőház Zrt.
In addition to this, another solar farm is being installed, which will further support the efforts to meet the company’s energy needs from renewable sources as much as possible in the near future.//
New business model
Dániel Novák
CEO
MediLine
MediLine has been a preferred supplier of hundreds of companies since 1991.
“Imported, exclusively sold or sourced from the finest domestic manufacturers and distributors: we handle and deliver products tailored to the most diverse customer needs, from truckloads to a volume of just a few cans on a daily basis. In 2023 we added further key elements to the business model change we had started back in 2022. The company has taken a big step towards digitalisation and sustainability by introducing a new corporate management system, which enables the use of the latest technologies and effectively supports the switch to multi-use packaging and going paperless”,
says Dániel Novák, CEO of MediLine Kft. //
Different executive, same goals
Péter Tóth-Korom
sales and operations director
METRO
2023 was a challenging year for Hungarian trade, but in spite of this METRO Wholesale was able to realise revenue growth, its goals and investments remained on track, and the company didn’t forget its social responsibility for a sustainable gastronomy.
“We think it is a great achievement that in 2023 we managed to fully implement the efficiency-enhancing store modernisations in five more stores. Since 1 April 2024 Vladimir Gnjidić has been the CEO of METRO Magyarország. The company’s focus and goals haven’t changed compared to the previous year: METRO wishes to be the first choice for professional customers”,
underlines sales and operations director Péter Tóth-Korom. //
Expanding distributor services
Zoltán Becze
general manager
Orbico Hungary
Orbico Hungary Kft. aims to ensure sustainable distributor operations, therefore, the focus is on strengthening operational efficiency, justified by the new and often unexpected challenges of the economic environment.
“In this context we are implementing digital development mainly in the areas of warehouse operations, HR and sales. Besides our successful cooperation with national and international players in organised retail, we see an opportunity in expanding our distributor services. This will include the launch of a new brand already in 2024 and the further enlarging of our customer base”,
informs general manager Zoltán Becze. //
In the service of health
Bernadett Strasser-Kátai and Attila István Imre, owners and managing directors of Real Nature
During its 15 years in the market, Real Nature Kft. has become a key player in domestic retail food supply.
“We are constantly innovating and evolving, and as a result we have been awarded the right to use the Symbol of Sustainability on our Lunter products again this year”,
informs Bernadett Strasser-Kátai, owner and managing director of Real Nature Kft.
The company keeps expanding its product range to support the healthy nutrition and lifestyle needs of Hungarians.
“In recent years people have faced many health, physical and economic challenges, and we are doing our best to help them cope by expanding our Lunter tofu range, and with our Joya, Happy, Good Milk and Real Nature products”,
adds owner and managing director Attila István Imre. //
With the changing trends in mind
Brúnó Homola
owner and CEO
Salesrep
2023 was one of the most successful years for Salesrep Kft.: the number of customers increased significantly and their portfolio was growing.
“Soon our products will be available everywhere in the country. As a growing company, it is essential that we expand our team. In the autumn we are trying to strengthen marketing, we are following the trends and in the future we will put more emphasis on user and customer experience, because we believe that these factors are equally important in B2B”,
opines owner and CEO Brúnó Homola.
Licensed products (e.g. Paw Patrol) are now also a priority, because they are very popular among children. //
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