At the end of March András Krivács, the owner and director of Fenyves Hotel and Conference Centre in Baktalórántháza, was elected president of the Hungarian Gastronomic National Association (MNGSZ). Mr Krivács, who was elected for two years, also kept his position in the presidency of MVI.

He sees a great need for changes and is glad about the fact that the members of MNGSZ realised: a new generation and a new attitude have to appear on the scene. His opinion is that former presidents made great steps forward but the organisation was working less and less efficiently. MNGSZ members are working hard and those who voted for the new president will help his work as a team. The president’s plan is to restructure the organisation and the working of the committees. One of the main tasks is improving the flow of information, but the website is going to be renewed as well. Mr Krivács would like to turn MNGSZ into a self-sustaining organisation and to work out a system for cooperating with vocational schools. He thinks that there is only one kind of national gastronomy in Hungary and would like to see the trade united. The president does not think in counties but focuses on regions instead, saying that local problems have to be solved locally, but it will be checked whether local MNGSZ officials fulfil their undertakings. These undertakings will be defined according to MNGSZ’s new set of values: high-level trade events and competitions will have to be organised, vocational schools will have to be supported actively and the reporting obligation will be taken seriously.