Day 1 Monday, 23 September 2024

8.30–9.30 Registration, check-in in the dormitories

9.30–9.45 School bell’s morning ring at Faculty of Hospitality

Dean’s welcome: Emília Krug

Rector’s welcome at the FMCG Open University:
Zsuzsanna Hermann, CEO and editor-in-chief of Trade magazin

9.45–12.00 Department of Social Sciences

General market analysis and overview of the last year and a half by various trade bodies, with a preview of the next year with our invited speakers: HoReCa market exclusive with a study prepared for the conference, industry introductions, reports from trade representatives

Lectures by professors
„An overview of the foodservice industry and current affairs in the hospitality sector”
László Kovács, president of the Guild of Hungarian Restaurateurs (MVI), owner of La Fiesta Party Service
„We maybe facing a difficult semester – Current situation in the pastry shops”
László Selmeczi, managing director of the Hungarian Confectioners Guild (MCI)
„Current information about domestic public catering – as seen from a professional organization”
Anna Zoltai, president of the National Association of Public Sector Catering Service Providers (KÖZSZÖV)
„The recent past, present and future of catering and public catering from the perspective of food safety”
Dr Imre Nemes, president of the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih)
 „International Outlook: What’s New in Gastronomy?”
Réka Szöllősi, food policy expert of elelmiszervilag.hu

12.00–13.00 Meeting in the cafeteria

13.00–14.30 Hospitality College Part 1

HoReCa market exclusive with a study prepared for the conference, HoReCA market experts reflect on market research data and the reports of trade bodies, analysing the events of the past year and sharing their forward-looking thoughts with those present, outlining the challenges of the near future and possible solutions

13.00–13.30
Lectures by professor
„New generations on both sides of the table – What are they like as guests and as a workforce?”
Ákos Bősze, HoReCa business development executive of METRO

13.30–14.30
Professors club
Dr Richárd Andrejszki, owner and CEO of Chef Market
Ákos Bősze, HoReCa business development executive of METRO
István Bruzsa, sales manager of Nestlé Professional
Károly Gerendai, owner of the Michelin-starred restaurants Costes and Rumour
Rudolf Semsei, owner of VakVarjú Restaurants and Budapest Party Service

14.30–15.00 Break

15.00–16.00 Hospitality College Part 2

„Never give up! – 15 Years in America and counting…”
Chef Roland Oláh from USA – interview by Emília Krug

16.00-17.15 Hospitality College Part 3

Overview of HoReCa market trends by suppliers, owners, HoReCa experts and trade bodies

16.00-16.25
Lecture by professor
„Waste vs Ingredient: What Happens if We Lose the Bin from Our Kitchens?”
Júlia Dalmadi, owner of TransFoodMission – Secontaste, food futurist

16.25-17.15
Professors club
István Pesti, Michelin-starred chef and owner of Platán Gourmet
Róbert Rosenstein, chef-owner of Rosenstein
Zoltán Roy Zsidai, head of Zsidai Group, president of the Hungarian Restaurant Association

17.15-17.30 Break

17.30–18.30 Academic evening with surprise guests

„Like a pea and its pod – In the Kitchen and in Life”
Claudia Liptai and Ádám Pataki, owner of Pataki Confectionery, member of the presidency of the Hungarian Confectioners Guild (MCI)

18.30–20.30 Free time

METRO cocktail party in the lobby of the Trade Campus until dinner

20.30–24.00 Cellar party – Dinner in the garden tent, live performance by Erox Martini, raffle

Day 2 Tuesday, 24 September 2024

8.00–9.00 Registration, check-in in the dormitories

9.00–9.15 School bell’s morning ring at the Faculty of Economics

Dean’s welcome: Emília Krug

9.15–12.00 Department of Economics

General macroeconomic, food industry, supplier and buyer market assessment of the past year and a half and a vision of the opportunities and challenges of the year and a half ahead, with our invited guests and discussion participants

9.15–10.40
Lectures by professors
„When & what can start the growth of the FMCG sector?”
Tibor Bodor, head of business banking of K&H Bank
„The promised land, or a diagnosis of the Hungarian economy”
Dr Ákos Kozák, co-founder of Equilibrium Institute
„Beyond price ceilings and mandatory promotions, before investment subsidies – The situation of the Hungarian food industry in the fall of 2024”
Tamás Éder, president of the Federation of Responsible Food Manufacturers (FÉSZ)

10.40–11.40
Professors club
Zoltán Balog, general manager of Márka Üdítő
Gergely Bálint, director of corporate sales at Nestlé
Roland Domoszlai, indepentent market comercial lead of HELL Energy

Presentations by
„There are more and more EU fundings available”
Dr Bernadett Petri, ministerial commissioner for the Coordination of the Use of Direct EU Funds of Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development (TFM), managing director of the Hungarian Development Promotion Office (MFOI)
„The current environment and future of Hungarian food exports”
Gergely Giczi, deputy CEO of the Agricultural Marketing Centre (AMC)

11.40–12.00
Announcing the results of the “Retail Award of Excellence for Hungarian Products 2024” competition and presenting the awards. Chief patron of the event: Dr István Nagy István, Minister of Agriculture.

12.00-13.00 Meeting in the cafeteria

13.00-15.00 Department of Commerce

Status report from the food industry, current challenges, opportunities, new strategies and plans for wholesalers and buyers, roundtable discussions

13.00-14.00
Professors club
Dr Beáta Olga Felkai, deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture (AM)
Dr Tamás Kozák, secretary general of the National Trade Association (OKSZ)
Dr Imre Nemes, president of the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih)
Katalin Neubauer, secretary general of the Hungarian National Trade Association (MNKSZ)

14.00-15.00
Professors club
Zoltán Becze, general manager of Orbico
Csaba Kanizsai-Tóth, company manager of FÁN Group
Dr Beáta Kápolna, offer management director of METRO
Péter Szemes, managing director of Maresi Foodbroker
Tamás Tőkey, general manager of MIRBEST

Presentation by
„Innovation and cost cutting? – Opportunities and challenges in the payment market”
Ferenc B. Tóth, chief business development officer of IQOM

15.00-15.15 Break

15.15–19.00 Department of National Defence

Current challenges and opportunities for suppliers, domestic chains and tobacco shops, roundtable discussions

15.15-16.15
Professors club
Tamás Kámán, product director of Tesco
Zoltán Noszlopy, deputy CEO and purchasing director of CBA
László Varga, product director of Auchan
Krisztina Várkonyi, purchasing manager of SPAR
Géza Vincze, director of purchasing at Penny

16.15-17.15
Lecture by professor
“Why Don’t Hungarians Consume (Enough)?”
Gergő Soltész, investment and finanicial expert
„Selective Shopping: a new way to keep disposable income at bay”
Andreas Christou, managing director of Retail Zoom

17.15-17.30 Break

17.30-19.00
Professors club
Tibor Fekete, member of the board of directors of CO-OP Hungary, president-CEO of Coop Szolnok
Zsolt Gyelán, vice president of CBA
Lívia Jeszenszki, managing director of Reál
Tamás Jósvai, managing director of Tom Market

Presentations by
„Artificial intelligence (AI) in the service of representative work”
Ákos Kontár, operative director of Checksum
„Single-person target group – new dimensions of personalization”
Gyula Gallina, business development director of Mastercard

19.00–20.30 Free time

20.30–0.30 Freshman Ball – Dinner in the restaurant, ABBA Tribute Show in the lobby, raffle

Day 3 Wednesday, 25 September 2024

8.00–9.00 Registration, check-in in the dormitories

9.00–9.15 School bell’s morning ring at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

Dean’s welcome: Emília Krug

9.15–12.00 AI Department

General market assessment of the last year and a half and future opportunities in e-commerce based on the consumption habits of households and in e-commerce, with presentations and roundtable discussions

9.15-10.45
Lectures by professors:
„Pockets rattling with change – But is it like that everywhere?”
Tünde Turcsán, managing director of Consumer Panel Services GfK-YouGov
„Voice of the Consumer 2024”
Anita Mekler partner, consumer and retail industry leader of PwC Magyarország
„Navigating in the Shadows of Giants – A Snapshot of Hungarian and Regional E-commerce in Autumn 2024”
Norbert Madar, senior manager of PwC Magyarország

10.45-12.00
Professors club
Ákos Forrás, managing director of Alza.hu
Ádám Fürjes, head of webshop of Rossmann
Gábor Papp, head of online business at Tesco
Rita Szalma, commercial director of kifli.hu
Tibor Székács, owner of Avokado

Presentation by
„E-shopper Barometer – Online shopping habits in Hungary and internationally”
László Varga, sales and marketing director of DPD

12.00–13.00 Meeting in the cafeteria

13.00–13.50 Department of Logistics and Transport

General market assessment of the last year and a half and future opportunities in the entire supply chain, with presentations and roundtable discussion

Professors club
Szabolcs Czifrik, CEO of DPD
Dr Zoltán Doór, president of the Hungarian Association of Logistics (MLE)
Nikoletta Kiss, owner-CEO of Palmsped
András Táncsics, CEO of Boxy

Presentation by
„Fleet vs. ESG – It will concern you sooner than you would think! We are bringing pro tips to you!”
Gergely Lakatos, business development manager of MHC Mobility

13.50–17.00 Department of Environmental Engineering
Sustainability reports from around the world and Hungary, with presentations and roundtable discussions

13.50-14.40
Lectures by professors
„Do We Have a Responsibility!? The FMCG Sector and Sustainability”
Gergely Hankó, managing director of the Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises (KSZGYSZ)
„To do or not to do?”
Irén Márta, managing director of Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)

Presentation by
„Blue and White Heart Organization for Sustainable Food”
Szabolcs Pattzai, country manager of Blue and White Heart

14.40-15.00

Announcing the results of the “Symbol of Sustainability 2024” competition, presenting the awards

15.00-15.30 Break

15.30-17.00

Professors club
Ildikó Balázs, co-president of the National Trade Association (OKSZ), director of corporate affairs and communications at Auchan
László Büki, honorary president of the Association for Sustainable Packaging (FCsE), owner of BS Plastic
Miklós Nagy, technical secretary of the Hungarian Association of Packaging and Materials Handling (CSAOSZ)
Bernadett Strasser-Kátai, owner and CEO of Real Nature
Szilvia Szabó, head of producer responsibility systems at MOHU MOL Hulladékgazdálkodási Zrt.
Csilla Zombory, head of quality and environment at SPAR

Presentations by
„Paper packaging, our sustainable future”
László Tóth, commercial director of Smurfit Westrock
„Working Together for Sustainability”
Niklas Kothbauer, senior trade marketing and brand manager of Erdal (Austria)
„PPWR, a packaging revolution is about to start”
Attila Kisfali, subregional sales, marketing and innovation director of DS Smith

17.00–17.50 Department of Adult Education

Labour market analysis with discussion of future perspectives, with invited speakers and roundtable discussion

Lecture by professor
„Current issues in care policy”
Attila Fülöp, state secretary for care policy of the Ministry of the Interior (BM)

Professors club
Sándor Baja, managing director of Randstad, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania
Attila Fülöp, state secretary for care policy of the Ministry of the Interior (BM)
Imre Rosner, chairtable department head of Szerencsejáték
Norbert Túróczi, head of HR at Tesco

17.50–18.00 Break

18.00–19.00 Academic evening with surprise guest

Lesson starter with Boxy

„Math Class: After Division and Multiplication, What to Expect in the Economy in 2025”
Dániel Jellinek, owner-CEO of INDOTEK Group and Gergő Soltész, investment and financial expert – interview by Szilvia Krizsó

19.00–20.30 Free time

20.30–02.30 eKlub in Tapolca – BBQ dinner in the garden, followed by a Retro Party courtesy of Rossmann

Day 4 Thursday, 26 September 2024

8.30–9.15 Registration, check-in in the dormitories

9.15–9.30 School bell’s morning ring at the Faculty of Foreign Trade

Dean’s welcome: Szilvia Krizsó

9.30–12.00 Department of Business Economics

Market review of the last year and a half and the year ahead, followed by a roundtable discussion hosted by Branded Goods Association Hungary, and introducing the Chain Bridge Club Foundation and the students it supports

9.30-10.30
Lecture by professor
„The international (and now even the Hungarian) situation is feeling the heat”
György Jaksity, president of the board of directors at Concorde

10.30-11.50
Professors club
Tamás Ács, head of country at Unilever
Dr Ágnes Fábián, managing director of Henkel
Zoltán Fekete, secretary general of Branded Goods Association Hungary
Péter Noszek, CEO of Nestlé
Attila Sófalvi, general manager of MARS
Zoltán Venter, country manager of Essity

11.50-12.00
Presentation
„With us, it’s not the show, the support must go on”
Zsuzsanna Hermann, president of the board of trustees of the Foundation

12.00–13.00 Meeting in the cafeteria

13.00–14.00 Department of Teaching Methodology

Brand equity trends and marketing communication, how to be successful, what does value mean today in Hungary and around the world, with presentations

Lectures by professors
„Brand Footprint 2024 Global & Hungary results – with award ceremony”
Tünde Turcsán, managing director of Consumer Panel Services GfK-YouGov and Krisztina Bakonyi-Kovács senior consultant

Presentations by
„The voice of the brand”
András Galavics, head of radio division and sales at atmedia and János Kapitány, head of radio direct sales and promotions
„Digital flyer hero in the universe of retail marketing”
István Zsatkulák, commercial director and Zsolt Sipos sales director of Offerista Group

Lecture by professor
„Kantar Creative Effectiveness 2024 – the best FMCG commercials based on the consumers’ evaluation”
Gábor Tolnai, head of marketing insight division at Kantar Hoffmann

14.00–15.30 Department of International Relations

Successes and challenges of hyper- and supermarkets in a roundtable discussion

14.00–14.20
Lecture by professor
„NIQ Lessons from the World of Modern Trade”
Erik Vágyi, managing director of NielsenIQ

14.20–15.30
Professors club
Gabriella Heiszler, president-CEO of SPAR
Viktória Lucenko, CEO of Auchan
György Sóskuti, deputy CEO of Bonafarm

Presentations by
„Future of Retail”
Lajos Szabó trade organization and supply department manager of Szerencsejáték
„Last steps before the goal”
Ferenc Szász, business development director of Mastercard

15.30–16.00 Break

16.00–16.45 Department of Chemical Operations

Successes and challenges of the service station channel – roundtable discussion

Professors club
Tibor Balogh, company manager of OMV
Dr András Orosz, retail director of MOL
Sarolta Vecsey, mobility manager of Shell Hungary and Slovenia

16.45–18.00 Department of Psychology

Successes and challenges of drugstores – roundtable discussion

Professors club
Ágnes Bárczi-Elek, purchasing manager of Müller
Ferenc Czigány, head of sales at Ecofamily
István Dobi, owner of Dél-100
László Flórián, managing director of Rossmann
Mariann Józsa, managing director of dm
Zsuzsanna Szak, general manager of Henkel Consumer Brands

Presentation by
„Next Topmodel Hungary – The Pinnacle of Collaboration”
Erika Csikesz, sales and digital director of TV2 Media Group and Anna Siba, head of marketing at Henkel

18.00–20.30 Free time

20.30–04.00 Graduation ceremony – Gala Dinner, Lifetime Achievement Awards, birthday toasts, announcing the results of the “Retailer of the Year2024” competition, presenting the awards, followed by live music by Vegas Show Band, courtesy of TV2 Group

Day 5 Friday, 27 September 2024

9.00–10.00 Check-out from the dormitories

10.00–12.30 School bell’s morning ring at the Faculty of Humanities

Our guest professors will bring great lectures for the traditional farewell presentations for managers this year as well

Dean’s welcome: Szilvia Krizsó

10.00-11.00
Lecture by professor
„Unclosed cases”
Dr Kitti Almási clinical psychologist

11.00-11.30
Lecture by professor
„The mirror lies”
Szilvia Krizsó motivational speaker

11.30–12.30
Lecture by professor
„Beyond all limits”
Vujity Tvrtko reporter

12.30-14.00 Meeting in the cafeteria