Through a glass darkly…

Today those businesses can expect good results that give priority to innovation and integrate the latest technologies and digital solutions. Customer and partner trust has also become a key issue, and sustainability considerations are more important than in the past when making decisions. On the following pages, some of Trade magazin’s partners, wholesalers, distributors and importers summarise the year, accompanied by their business results for 2021 and 2022. //

Lajos Kovács
managing director
Biomark

Biomark Kft. has been a stable presence in Hungarian fresh product wholesale for 35 years. “In 2022 – a year full of challenges – we were able to remain a stable presence in the domestic market. We are convinced that the key to success lies in efficiency, one of the most important pillars of which is reacting rapidly to market changes. It is also crucial to be seen as a reliable and balanced partner, by suppliers, customers and employees alike”, explains managing director Lajos Kovács. //

Chef Market: stable and steady growth

Gergely Németh
commercial director
Chef Market

Chef Market doubled its sales revenue in 2022, thanks to a steady increase in the number of HoReCa partners and a significant growth in the size of the customer basket.

“The ‘one stop shop’ system that we have developed by expanding our product selection now fully covers the purchasing needs of hospitality businesses”, informs Gergely Németh, commercial director of Chef Market Zrt.

Although the number of HoReCa units that Chef Market delivers to has nearly doubled in the last two years, the company continues to focus on acquiring new partners and adding new products to its offering. //

New approach leads to success

Tamás Fenes
deputy site manager
Family-Friss

Family-Friss Kft. is the number one drink retailer and wholesaler in the Mosonmagyaróvár region. The pandemic period and the negative economic effects of the war have made the company realise: it is dangerous and risky if the partner base is predominantly made up of a particular customer group. Because of this Family-Friss Kft. is now developing independent retail territories and exploring additional distribution channels.

“Improving our competitiveness isn’t necessarily about financial resources, but about adopting a new approach. In 2021 we introduced a new complex commercial and corporate management system, and launched our B2B business online shop. This year we will open a new C+C store”, says deputy site manager Tamás Fenes. //

Helit Kft. has joined the European Catering Distributors (ECD) group as a member of the Mirbest Group.

“This was a very important step in our life, because this means not only bigger strength and stability for Helit than ever before, but also for our partners. Through ECD, we have access to a wider range of production resources and a more stable product base”, explains managing director Zoltán Máté Gödry Jr.

As for Hungary, in the autumn of 2022 the company launched a new generation online shop, where they offer nearly 5,000 different products. Helit’s credo is that they build the future together with partners, therefore the company innovates focusing on partner needs. //

Zoltán Péterszegi
managing director
Húsház Hungary

“We opened a new Húsház Hungary site in Balatonboglár on 26 March 2023. This will become the company’s headquarters in the near future. The 4,000m², 7-dock refrigeration complex features revolutionary solutions, in terms of energy use and other aspects”, says Zoltán Péterszegi, managing director of Húsház Hungary Kft.

The cold rooms have been designed to provide the shortest possible route to the products. Húsház Hungary’s mission is to offer the best service to customers, making food procurement a smooth process for the engines of the economy, entrepreneurs, so that they can build the future together. //

Distribution that creates value

Zoltán Becze
managing director
Orbico Hungary

Real Nature Kft. is one of the most efficient food distributors in the domestic market today. Even in the very difficult last few years, sustainability has been a core value at Real Nature, which has resulted in record sales of over HUF 5bn.

“We believe that safe food production and nutrition, besides directly affecting the health of consumers, form an integral part of following the principles of sustainability as we know them today”, explains Bernadett Strasser-Kátai, the CEO of Real Nature Kft.

The company’s Joya, Natumi and Happy plant-based drinks, plant-based Wojnar hummuses and breakfast creams, My Love almond-, coconut- and oatgurts and Lunter tofus have growing market share. The company’s brand building work is well-illustrated by the fact that the share of its own Real Nature branded products has already exceeded 45% of total sales this year. //