Spicy evenings

Barbecues are the driving force behind the considerable sales growth in the spice, marinade mix and sauce categories.

Brigitta Kosaras
brand manager
Nestlé Hungária

According to Brigitta Kosaras, brand manager of Nestlé Hungária Kft., spice mixes are popular throughout the year, but the best periods in sales are the summer months and December.

Anita Plánk
ideation lead
Unilever Magyarország

Anita Plánk, ideation lead of Unilever Magyarország opines that sauces constitute one of the fastest-growing dressing categories, where sales are increasing by two-digit numbers. In the spice and marinade mix categories the company has observed a slowdown after the rapid sales growth of recent years. Ms Plánk has revealed that the most popular sauce variety is BBQ, but mayonnaise-based flavoured sauces are also selling well.

Henrietta Csicselyné Biró
sales director
Thymos Hungária

Discount supermarkets are gaining ground in spice and sauce sales, taking market share away from hypermarkets. Henrietta Csicselyné Biró, sales director of Thymos Hungária Kft. informed that demand is on the rise for premium and free-from products in the private label category too.

Márta Galácz
managing director
Kotányi Hungária

Márta Galácz, managing director of Kotányi Hungária Kft. revealed that products in paper bag packaging still provide the majority of their sales, but the spice mill segment is developing steadily and the company sees great potential in it.

In 2020 Kotányi Hungária puts 3 limited edition series Kotányi grill spice mixes on the market: Argentine Chimichurri, Grill Texas and Grill India. Besides these, in the fried potato segment they are launching 4 new Kotányi spice mixes, including one developed especially for sweet potato. Just like all Kotányi products, the new innovations are also free from preservatives, artificial colours and flavour enhancers. In the HoReCa-segment, spring brought the debut of the My Coffee Spice product range: 4 spice mixes for flavouring coffee and other hot drinks, in spice mill format.

Last year Unilever introduced new Globus sauces to the market with great success. In 2020 they keep expanding and optimising the portfolio, for instance, they will roll out a BBQ flavour under the Globus brand, called Smoky Grill. The new sauces aren’t only perfect for barbecues, but also add something extra to hamburgers or mayonnaise-based salads.

Sauces represent one of the fastest-growing dressing category

As for Nestlé, the company gave an overhaul to Maggi sauces in a glass jar. The Bologna sauce is available in two variants, Classic and Herb; the former is a bit sweeter, while the latter is the perfect choice for those who like Mediterranean flavours. For those consumers who prefer more exotic flavours, Nestlé developed the Mexican and Sweet&Sour sauces. Since last summer a 3-product grill spice range has also been available to shoppers.

Klaudia Gyűrű
trade marketing
manager
In-Food 2000

In-Food 2000 Kft. has been the Hungarian distributor of Heinz sauces and other products by the world-famous brand. We learned from trade marketing manager Klaudia Gyűrű that cold Heinz sauces, especially ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard are popular around the year, but demand is also increasing for Heinz American barbecue sauces (classic, hot and sweet). The flagship product is definitely Heinz ketchup. More and more Hungarians are attracted by hot variants such as Heinz Hot Chili Ketchup in 460g/400ml size. As a reaction to the strengthening health trend, Heinz developed ketchup with 50 percent lower sugar and salt content. The recently launched Kids Ketchup is also a reduced sugar and salt product. Heinz Light Mayonnaise is low in fat and it is made with eggs laid by free-range chicken. Just recently Heinz gave products a new packaging: now the majority of Heinz products are marketed in top-down bottles, thanks to which they are easier to use. Last year In-Food 2000 Kft. put 220ml ‘Flavours of the world’ cold sauce specialities on the market.

Thymos Hungária Kft. is preparing for the barbecue season with a large selection of products. Their liquid spice marinades are available in five different flavours and two sizes. These products are free from sodium glutamate and preservatives. They can be found on store shelves in resealable upright bags. Thymos Hungária’s spice mixes and spice salts can be used in preparing all kinds of meats, roasts and potatoes. Consumers only need to pour the Thymos Salad Spice Mix on the fresh lettuce or salad, there is no need to prepare any kind of dressing. Thymos Herb Salt is ideal for making any kind of dressing, sauce or herb butter. Thymos Big Pack products have been created for those consumers who like to economise; the company’s most popular spices and spices mixes are available in Big Pack format. Thymos Konyhatündér condiments and Dried Vegetables are free from additives. From this year 90g Liquid Spice Marinades are available in twist-cap variant, just like the 150g version.

Consumers’ expectations towards spice packaging and size keep growing

István Domonkos
owner-MD
DOMI Fokhagyma

Despite rising salary costs and product ingredient prices, DOMI Fokhagyma Kft. sold 20 percent more products in 2019 than in 2018. The company’s additive-free crushed garlic product is a big success in the HoReCa segment, while families like their tube-format product range the most. Owner and managing director István Domonkos told: as the barbecue season is starting, they expect growing demand for their bag packaged spicy garlic. One bag contains enough spiced garlic for preparing 500g of meat. In its recent innovation work, DOMI Fokhagyma has been focusing on dietary supplements. New products include a white garlic capsule, black garlic and a black garlic capsule. This year will also bring a ‘sweet’ surprise for garlic lovers.

Mónika Szokol
marketing manager
Rubin

The barbecue season also gives momentum to seasoning pepper product sales. Mónika Szokol, marketing manager of Rubin Kft. told our magazine that shoppers like to buy their pepper seed oil in the grilling season because it works very well as a marinade too. Rubin Kft.’s smoked pepper is also a favourite of many, it works very well in dishes cooked in the open air. This year the company updates its Piros Négyes product: the box gets a new design and a new addition to its contents is the popular innovation mentioned above, Smoked Pepper – the other three products inside are Szeged Pepper, Pepper Seed Oil and a Crusher Pepper Mill. The company is also entering the HoReCa and consumer markets with 100g paper bag format Rubin black pepper, white pepper and cumin.

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