Lidl: another special tax increase could lead to chain closures in the Hungarian market

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 11. 25. 11:43

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Further increases in the special retail tax could lead to store closures in Hungary – this was stated by Zita Szlavikovics, the CEO of Lidl Hungary, in an interview with 24.hu. She said that in 2024 the company paid 55 billion forints in special tax, which represents about two-thirds of their potential profit.

According to the company manager, if the government were to further increase the burden, “there would be the first chain closure” in the domestic market. She emphasized that this would certainly not affect Lidl, but such a move would have serious consequences, since “there are still too few stores compared to customer demand.”

Significant developments, rising wages

Zita Szlavikovics said that Lidl spent around 106 million euros – around 42 billion forints – on investments, renovations and modernizations in Hungary in 2025. Several stores also received energy improvements, including solar panel systems.

At the company, store managers earn an average gross salary of 1.37 million forints, and store employees earn 683 thousand forints gross. The company has implemented an average wage increase of 9 percent this year.

Customers are more careful, they waste less

The CEO also spoke about the change in domestic shopping habits: according to Lidl’s experience, more small, targeted purchases are now typical, and customers are increasingly paying attention to only buying what they will definitely consume.

According to Szlavikovics, this is a “very positive change” due to the reduction in waste, which indicates a favorable direction for both retailers and households.