Coop: still leading the way after 30 years

– What was 2024 like for Coop?

László Pekó
chairman of the
board of directors
CO-OP Hungary

László Pekó: – Looking back on 2024, we had a successful year despite the volatile economic environment and regulatory challenges. Our sales revenue reached HUF 860bn, which was an almost 4% increase compared to 2023. Coop’s network of 2,100 stores continues to provide food supply in 1,400 locations.

– Which business development results are you the most proud of?

Géza Tóth: -With the support of the Hungarian Village Programme, we have modernised 461 stores from a budget of HUF 12bn, improving the quality of life for 450,000 people. We have further expanded the network of Super Plus stores, so there are now more than 50 such shops operating nationwide. Our loyalty programme also made progress: the number of active users of the Coop Club app is growing dynamically and now connects more than one million returning customers to us.

Coop Szuper Plusz store in Gönyű

– Sustainability isn’t just a goal, but also a practice – what does this mean to Coop?

Géza Tóth
CEO
CO-OP Hungary

Géza Tóth: -For Coop sustainability isn’t a campaign theme, but a long-term strategic principle. Last year we continued our energy efficiency improvements: 770 of our stores now have solar panels, which generate 38GWh of electricity per year, covering 23% of our total electricity consumption. Coop has collected more than 145,000 litres of used cooking oil in 572 stores.

– Coop has always promoted Hungarian products – where do you stand on this now?

László Pekó: –Hungarian products account for over 80% of Coop’s product offering and in certain product groups this proportion is even higher. Meat, poultry and fresh fruit and vegetables come almost exclusively from domestic sources, and in many regions bakery and confectionery products – even handmade local specialities – are also available.

– What social issues did Coop supported last year?

László Pekó: – For Coop community involvement is an integral part of how we operate. In 2024 we organised the Coop Rally for the 18th time, which promotes companies active in the domestic food industry. Our cooperation with the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) has been going on for 29 years. The Coop Aid Foundation has been operating for 15 years, and in 2024 no less than 2,700 children in six counties received aid, in the form of donation packages containing Coop private label products in the value of HUF 30m.

Small-town store development in Sajópálfala

-What are your goals for 2025?

Géza Tóth: -Coop’s most important goal remains to provide stable, reliable food supply to customers, especially where other market players aren’t present. We wish to strengthen the role of Hungarian products in our assortment and are working on developments that will enable us to respond to customer needs even better. The decisions we make today are shaping the future of retail and we take this responsibility seriously every day. (x)