SPAR spent nearly 220 million forints on social initiatives in 2025

Working together for families in need

SPAR Hungary and its strategic partner, the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, continued their multi-pillar cooperation in 2025, which provides tangible help to the to those in need. During the Adni Öröm! school supplies collection campaign, customers supported the start of school for families in difficult circumstances with tens of thousands of school supplies, and also contributed to the success of the initiative by purchasing donation cards. Nearly 2 million forints were collected from donation card donations, which SPAR supplemented with an additional 1 million forints. As a result of the four-day material donation campaign implemented in INTERSPAR hypermarkets, nearly 100 thousand school supplies and various school supplies reached families in need through the charity service, even before the start of the school year – thus, approximately 1,800 children were able to start the new school year prepared in September.

The Christmas Adni Öröm! non-perishable food collection also played a prominent role in 2025. A total of 148 SPAR and INTERSPAR stores joined the initiative, where customers donated a total of 208 tons of non-perishable food. Nearly 5.5 million forints were collected from the donation cards, which were supplemented by nearly 7 million forints on the Adomanyozz.hu platform by supporters. From the collected donations, the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service put together about 25 thousand food packages, which were delivered to families in need before the holidays.

As part of the strategic partnership, the food rescue program continued in 2025. More than 1 million kilograms of vegetables, fruits and other food that were withdrawn from sales but still suitable for consumption from SPAR stores reached those in need with the assistance of the aid organization. The program simultaneously provides assistance to those in need and contributes to reducing food waste.

SPAR also continuously provides customers with the opportunity to support those living in difficult situations. Anyone can easily support those in need with donation cards worth 200 and 500 forints, which can be purchased at the cash desks for the benefit of the Hungarian Maltese Charity. The power of solidarity can thus be felt during everyday shopping.

Complex support for the recovery of those living with leukemia

As part of its social responsibility, SPAR Hungary has been supporting the work of the Let’s Do It for Leukemia Children and Patients Non-Profit Foundation for more than a decade. The organization provides assistance to children and adults living with leukemia and other blood diseases through grants, donations and 1% tax contributions. In addition to direct financial support, the company also supports the foundation’s activities by providing them with visibility and communication opportunities in its stores, and by providing space for activities related to charity programs.

Sport and collaboration

SPAR Hungary has been committed to supporting the promotion of an active lifestyle and exercise for many years. One of its highlights is the SPAR Budapest Marathon^® Festival, which is one of the largest leisure sports events in the country, and of which the company has been a partner as the title sponsor for many years. In 2025, tens of thousands of runners took part in the race, including many SPAR employees who represented the company’s community at various distances. In order to support the physical and mental well-being of employees, the company also provided its colleagues with free registration for any distance of the race last year. Joint preparation and participation not only strengthens a health-conscious attitude, but also contributes to the community experience within the company and strengthens togetherness.

The sporting event also carried a social message: SPAR supported the Budapest Bi with 2,000 forints for every employee who took part ke Maffia Association, which aimed to help the everyday lives of the disadvantaged and people forced onto the streets.

Customer awareness and conscious lifestyle

An important element of SPAR Hungary’s social role is to shape customers’ attitudes and support conscious decisions. In 2025, the company launched several initiatives that provide practical assistance in developing a health-conscious, sustainable lifestyle in everyday life. The long-term implementation of the lifestyle change resolutions at the beginning of the year was facilitated by the joint year-long education campaign of SPAR and Nestlé. The digital year planner supported consumers in developing a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle with inspiring stories, practical advice and easy-to-implement tips month after month. The content was supplemented each month with recipes based on easily obtainable, affordable ingredients, shopping lists and dietary information. The online planner was promoted through the MySPAR application and the digital channels of SPAR and Nestlé.

Attitude-shaping also appeals to the youngest age group: the highly successful SPAR ÖKO KALAND animated series returned with new episodes in 2025. The previously presented series, aimed at kindergarten and primary school children, has been expanded with seven new episodes, which address the topics of environmentally conscious everyday life in a playful and understandable way. The episodes focus on issues such as selective waste collection, healthy lifestyles, reducing food waste and avoiding single-use plastics. The series of stories is available on SPAR Hungary’s YouTube channel and on sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu.

The aim of the initiatives is to provide customers, regardless of age, with knowledge and motivation that will help them make more conscious, responsible everyday decisions.

SPAR stands for animal protection

SPAR Hungary has been supporting the work of domestic animal protection organizations for more than a decade, and in 2025 it also contributed to the care of animals living in shelters with numerous initiatives. The chain of stores helped the organizations by regularly offering products that were withdrawn from commercial circulation but were still suitable for feeding animals, so food donations reached hundreds of animal protection organizations across the country during the year.

The company has also been working in close professional cooperation with the Hungarian Animal Welfare Foundation for years. One of the most important elements of the partnership is the Paw in Trouble! national pet food collection campaign, which was organized for the fifth time in INTERSPAR stores in 2025. As part of the charity initiative, customers could directly hand over their donations to volunteers from more than thirty participating shelters and animal protection organizations. Last year’s collection also yielded outstanding results, and SPAR Hungary supplemented the program with an additional 1 million forints in financial support, confirming its long-term commitment to animal protection and responsible animal husbandry.

SPAR also provides animal protection NGOs with the opportunity to organize fundraisers in its stores throughout the year. The company’s open cooperation practice strengthens the visibility of NGOs and creates a direct connection between customers and the supported causes.

Events organized with a conscious environmental approach

SPAR Hungary continued its practice of striving to reduce the environmental impact of some of its key corporate events. As part of this, the related estimated CO₂ emissions are calculated and monitored with the involvement of an independent expert. In recent years, the company has consciously incorporated expert recommendations from previous years into its event organization practice, which has resulted in a measurable reduction in calculated carbon emissions. In addition, the company also contributes to the achievement of longer-term environmental goals by financing a native tree planting project.

SPAR Regions Treasures Program Helps Small Entrepreneurs

SPAR Hungary Regions Treasures Program further strengthened the market presence of domestic small producers and small enterprises in 2025. Within the framework of the initiative launched four years ago, a total of 550 products from 125 domestic suppliers are now available in the store network, so customers can choose from an increasing number of local specialties during their everyday shopping. The range currently includes goods from 23 product groups: in addition to dairy products, pasta, cold cuts, jams and honey, cold-pressed oils, craft beers, wines, andThe range also includes pickles, preserves and various sweets. The aim of the programme is to provide smaller food producers with a stable sales opportunity, while customers can access quality, domestic products. In addition to selling products, SPAR also helps its partners with professional and digital support, contributing to the development of their operations and increasing their market competitiveness. The initiative also contributes to stimulating the local economy and creating jobs: the businesses participating in the programme together provide a livelihood for more than 800 people. In this way, Regions’ Treasures simultaneously provide value for customers, domestic producers and local communities.

Supporting community causes

A number of civil society organisations received support last year through the SPAR Helping Hands application system. The programme provides an opportunity for both local and national causes to receive funding. The initiative thus strengthens community cooperation and the stability of the civil society.