BUSINESS DAYS 2024. September 23–27.
BUSINESS DAYS 2024
FMCG Open University on the Trade Campus
(The latest on the FMCG market from a retailer, supplier, HoReCa and services perspective)
Term time: 23-27 September 2024
University town: Tapolca
Trade Campus: Hunguest Hotel Pelion
We are coming together for a week this September, listening to the experiences and ideas of others and reflecting on our future opportunities and challenges. We are going to take a lot of courses during the week, but of course we will also have school get-togethers, university balls and cellar parties. We are going to invite lots of professors, and those participants who apply will be allowed to take exams, so that they can return home with a proper diploma, proving that they have completed this year’s course…
Soon we can say that we have been living in an ever-changing environment for four years, with growing challenges and unexpected events, experiencing economic changes, trying to comply with a modified regulatory environment, amidst changing customer and consumer trends. The sensitivity and strategic role of the FMCG market don’t need to be demonstrated, but it is necessary to monitor the changes and prepare for future events in good time. All these changes require more and more information from both inside and outside. This is why every September we gather for five days at the Business Days conference, with invited speakers, roundtable participants, discussing old themes and new ones, in Hungarian and English, in consumer, supplier, retailer, wholesaler and service provider circles.
Just like in the past, we have chosen a special theme for this year’s conference, which has never been used before. This time we are studying at the FMCG Open University on the Trade Campus, to keep our “science” up-to-date and to give good answers to the challenges of today. Our goal is to spend a really valuable week together, in a professional environment.
Everyone is welcome!
Programme
FMCG Open University and Business Days 2024 conference, with Minister of Agriculture Dr István Nagy István as the chief patron of the event
Day 1 Monday, 22 September 2025
8.30-9.30 Check-in, waiting in the VIP lounge
9.30-9.45 Boarding for Trade Airlines flights
Information from the cabin crew: Emília Krug
Trade Airlines air marshal’s welcome speech:
Zsuzsanna Hermann, CEO and editor-in-chief of Trade magazin
BLACK BOX
10.00 Passenger plane – takeoff
Captain’s briefings: general market analysis and federal overviews of the past year and a half, with a preview of the following from our invited speakers: a HoReCa market exclusive with research prepared for the conference, industry leaders, reports from trade associations
12.00 Landing
12.00-13.00 Meeting in the transit VIP Buffet (level -1)
13.00 Flying SAUCER – takeoff
Captains among themselves: a HoReCa market exclusive, with research prepared for the conference and HoReCa market professionals reflecting on market research data and trade organisation reports, analysing what happened in the past year and sharing their forward-looking thoughts with the participants about the challenges and possible solutions for the near future
14.00 Landing, transfer
14.00 Air Force One Tapolca – takeoff
“HoReCa Heroes 2025” competition results announced, awards ceremony.
14.30 Landing
14.30-15.00 Airport shopping and meetings in the food court
15.00 GYRO(S)copter – takeoff
Captains among themselves: an overview of HoReCa market trends from suppliers, operators, catering professionals and trade associations
17.00 Landing
17.00-17.30 Airport shopping and meetings in the food court
17.30 Flyover – a sightseeing flight with our surprise guests
18.30 Landing
18.30-20.30 Waiting for the connection, meanwhile: METRO cocktail party in the transit zone until dinner
20.30-24.00 Dinner in the hangar, performance by Mariann Falusi, courtesy of the Premium Kert Group, raffle
Day 2 Tuesday, 23 September 2025
8.00-9.00 Check-in, waiting in the VIP lounge
9.00-9.30 Boarding for Trade Airlines flights
Information from the cabin crew: Emília Krug
BLACK BOX
9.30 Sailplane – takeoff
Captains among themselves: a general macroeconomic, food industry, supplier and shopper 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 speakers and panellists
11.30 Landing
11.30 Air Force One Tapolca – takeoff
Announcing the results of the “Retail Award of Excellence for Hungarian Products 2025” competition, presentation of the awards. The chief patron of the competition is Minister of Agriculture Dr István Nagy
12.00 Landing
12.00-13.00 Meeting in the transit VIP Buffet (level -1)
13.00 Jumbo Jet – takeoff
Captains among themselves: food economy progress report and current challenges, opportunities, new strategies and plans for wholesalers and distributors in roundtable discussions
15.00 Landing
15.00-15.15 Airport shopping and meetings in the food court
15.15 Charter flight – takeoff
Captains among themselves: current challenges and opportunities for purchasers in round table discussions
17.15 Landing, quick transfer
17.15-17.30 Airport shopping and meetings in the food court
17.30 Charter flight – takeoff
Captains among themselves: current challenges and opportunities for domestic retail chains and tobacco shops in roundtable discussions
19.00 Landing
19.00-20.30 Waiting for the connection
20.30-0.30 Dinner in the VIP Buffet (level -1), surprise guest in the transit zone, raffle
Day 3 Wednesday, 24 September 2025
8.00-9.00 Check-in, waiting in the VIP lounge
9.00-9.30 Boarding for Trade Airlines flights
Information from the cabin crew: Szilvia Krizsó
BLACK BOX
9.30 Jet aircraft – takeoff
Captains among themselves: a general market assessment of the past year and a half and future opportunities based on company data and household purchasing habits and e-commerce, with presentations and a roundtable discussion
12.00 Landing
12.00-13.00 Meeting in the transit VIP Buffet (level -1)
13.00 Cargo plane – takeoff
Captains among themselves: a general market assessment of the past year and a half and future opportunities throughout the supply chain, with presentations and a roundtable discussion
13.45 Landing, transfer
13.45 Aerial refuelling station – takeoff
Captain’s briefing: successes and challenges of the service station channel – roundtable discussion
14.30 Landing, transfer
14.30 Air Force One Tapolca
“Symbol of Sustainability 2024” competition results announced, awards ceremony
15.00 Landing
15.00-15.30 Airport shopping and meetings in the food court
15.30 Solar-powered aircraft – takeoff
Captains among themselves: sustainability progress reports from around the world and in Hungary, with presentations and roundtable discussions
17.50 Landing
17.50-18.00 Quick refuelling
18.00 Flyover – a sightseeing flight with our surprise guests
Duty-free from Boxy
19.00 Landing
19.00-20.30 Waiting for the connection
20.30-02.30 BBQ-dinner in the hangar, followed by a Fergeteges Retro Party
Day 4 Thursday, 26 September 2024
8.00-9.00 Check-in, waiting in the VIP lounge
9.00-9.30 Boarding for Trade Airlines flights
Information from the cabin crew: Szilvia Krizsó
BLACK BOX
9.30 Heavy bombers – takeoff
Captains among themselves: market assessment of the past year and a half and the years ahead, followed by a roundtable discussion hosted by the Branded Goods Association Hungary, and introducing the Chain Bridge Foundation and the students it supports
12.00 Landing
12.00-13.00 Meeting in the transit VIP Buffet (level -1)
13.00-14.00 Stealth bomber – takeoff
Captain’s briefing: brand equity trends and marketing communication, how to become successful, what value means today in Hungary and abroad, with presentations
14.00 Landing, transfer
14.00 Fighter aircraft – takeoff
Captain’s briefing: the successes and challenges of discounters, hypermarkets and supermarkets in a roundtable discussion
16.00 Landing
16.00-16.30 Airport shopping and meetings in the food court
16.30 Emergency airplane – takeoff
Captain’s briefing: successes and challenges of drugstores in a roundtable discussion
18.00 Landing
18.00-20.30 Waiting for the connection
20.30-04.00 Air show – gala dinner, Lifetime Achievement Awards, birthday toasts and announcing the results of the “Retailer of the Year 2024” competition, presentation of the awards, followed by live music by the Vegas Show Band, courtesy of the TV2 Group
Day 5 Friday, 26 September 2025
.00-9.45 Check-in, waiting in the VIP lounge
9.45-10.00 Boarding for Trade Airlines flights
Information from the cabin crew: Szilvia Krizsó
BLACK BOX
10.00 Space shuttle launch
Captains among themselves: traditionally this day is dedicated to thoughts executive can take home with them, with great presentations and exciting discussions once again
12.30 Landing
12.30-14.00 Meeting in the transit VIP Buffet (level -1)
We reserve the right to change the programme!
You can follow the regularly updated conference programme at businessdays.com.
You can also find all the information about our conference in English on our website: businessdays.hu/en
More information: marketing@trademagazin.hu
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 1. September 2024.
Registration form and participation fees
Members of the Lánchíd Klub will also take part in the conference:
Székács Tibor president (Avokado); Baja Sándor (Randstad); Balázs Ildikó (Auchan); Balogh Tibor (OMV); Bánhidi Attila (Fornetti); Benedek László (Agroloop); Békefi László (Coca-Cola); dr. Boros Péter (Graboplast); Csongovai Tamás; Fazekas Endre; Fekete Zoltán (Márkaszövetség); dr. Fischer Béla; Flórián László (Rossmann); Földesi György (Al-Rushaid Group); Gazsi Zoltán (Eisberg); Házi Zoltán; Heiszler Gabriella (SPAR); Hermann Zsuzsanna (Trade Magazin); Hovánszky László; Jeszenszki Lívia (Real); Justin István(Justin Time); Kedves Ferenc (Partner in Petfood); Laknerfi-Korin Katalin (Zwack Unicum); dr. Kozák Ákos (lmpetus Research); dr. Köves András (NT); Krizsó Szilvia (KriShow); Matus István; Mezei János (Co-op Star); Müller Kornél (Törley); Murányi László; Nagy Sándor; Németh Ottó (Herbow); Noszek Péter (Nestlé); Pálinkás Zsolt (Tesco); Poór Zoltán (Puratos); Rácz József (Prémium Kert); Saltzer Kornél; Sófalvi Attila (Mars); Sóskuti György (Bonafarm); Soltész Gergő (Ostoros Családi Pincészet); Strasser-Kátai Bernadett (Real Nature); Szalókyné Tóth Judit (The Coca-Cola Company); Szautner Péter (FrieslandCampina); Tarsoly József (Wienerberger) dr. Tímár Imre (Tanner Trade); Tóth Zoltán (Mindz); Venter Zoltán (Essity); Vuleta Zsolt (Borsodi Sörgyár); Zsinkó Bálint
