There is a huge interest in supporting small town liquor stores

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 04. 10. 11:31

The support program announced by the Government of Hungary for small village pubs has been successful. Approximately 80% of the eligible liquor stores applied for the 3 million forints. The significance of the support is demonstrated by the fact that the program manager Kisfaludy2030 Turisztikai Fejlesztő Nonprofit Zrt. will allow additional liquor stores to apply from April 10. Liquor stores operating in settlements with less than 1,000 inhabitants, registered with the National Tourism Data Service Center but not yet having a closed business year, can submit their applications until April 30.

In many cases, village liquor stores operate not only as catering establishments, but also as community spaces, while contributing to the performance of active and rural tourism in our country. Thus, they play a significant role in strengthening the population retention capacity of small settlements from both an economic and social perspective. That is why the government launched its program aimed at developing year-round village liquor stores in March this year, which, in addition to simple application and quick administration, provides effective assistance to service providers already this season.

The non-refundable support can be used by beneficiaries for energy efficiency-increasing development, marketing, equipment procurement and operating costs, such as utilities, as well as wages. The announcement was surrounded by enormous interest from operators.

Based on the data sheets received, more than 60% of service providers will use the funds received for equipment procurement, about a third (34%) for energy, while 5% will use the funds received for wage development. The most applications were submitted by operators from Veszprém, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Baranya counties.

The fundamental goal of the Program is to enable an increasingly wider range of the smallest settlements in our country to contribute to the development of liquor stores. Thus, Kisfaludy2030 Tourism Development Nonprofit Zrt. is launching a new call for applications for additional liquor stores operating in settlements with less than 1,000 inhabitants, registered in NTAK, but not yet having a closed business year. The operators of village pubs, wine bars, and espresso bars that meet the new call can submit their applications between April 10-30, provided that they have a registration document to this effect on the day before the call is published. The 3 million forints available per store can be used by liquor stores − in accordance with the previous call − for development, equipment procurement, and operating costs. The call is available on the kisfaludyprogram.hu website.