Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In Hungary

Updated April 08, 2024 10:19 AM By Steve Wynne-Jones

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Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In Hungary

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The Hungarian economy remained in recession for most of 2023, with inflation remaining amongst the highest in the European Union as the year drew to a close: 7.7% as of November 2023 (which is down from 23.1% for the corresponding month in 2022).

Lower commodity prices and easing financing conditions are likely to support a gradual recovery for the Hungarian economy in 2024 and 2025, the EU noted recently, a sentiment echoed by Finance Minister Mihály Varga, who pointed out how quickly the country rebounded after the COVID pandemic.

Varga said in a December that he expects Hungary's economy to grow by 3% to 4% in 2024.

Despite positive wage growth, retail sales have remained in decline in Hungary in recent months, with the country reporting a 6.5% decline in sales in October 2023 compared to the same month in 2022, according to the Hungarian Central Statistics Office. On a month-on-month basis, sales were down 0.3%. Food sales were down 1.9% on an annual basis, while non-food sales were down 5.1%.

In June 2023, Prime Minister Viktor Orban outlined his intention to ensure that inflation would be 'well below 10%' by the end of the year.

Recent data from KSH, the Hungarian Central Statistics Office, showed that consumer prices in Hungary rose by 3.7% on average in February 2024, compared to the same month a year earlier, while sales volumes were up 1.1% in the same month.

Here's an overview of the top ten supermarket retail chains in Hungary, according to their most recently-available full-year turnover. All data is supplied by Retail-Index.

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1. SPAR
Turnover: €2.43 billion (2021)

Having had a presence in the market since 1992, SPAR is the largest supermarket retail chain in Hungary with a turnover of €2.43 billion as of 2021. It operates under several banners, including DESPAR, INTERSPAR, SPAR, SPAR City, and SPAR Express. SPAR has 581 stores in Hungary (as of 2022).

Read More: SPAR Hungary Sees Turnover Up

2. Lidl
Turnover: €1.9 billion (2021)

With a turnover of €1.9 billion in 2021, Lidl is the second-largest retail chain in Hungary. The discounter, part of Germany's Schwarz Group, has 190 stores across the country. It has had a presence in the market since 2003.

A recent report from industry publication Trade Magazin suggested that Lidl was Hungary's leading retailer.

3. Coop
Turnover: €1.8 billion (2021)

Coop is a Hungarian cooperative retail chain that reported an estimated turnover of €1.8 billion in 2021. It operates under the Coop banner and has 2,300 stores across Hungary as of last year.

4. Tesco
Turnover: €1.8 billion (2021)

British retailer Tesco has had a longstanding presence in the Hungarian market, and reported a turnover of €1.8 billion in 2021. The group operates 198 stores across Hungary, under the Tesco Express and Tesco Superstore banners.

5. CBA
Turnover: €1.54 billion (2021)

Headquartered in Hungary, CBA operates 370 stores in the country, as well as having a presence in several other central and Eastern European markets. Founded in 1992, the group reported a turnover of €1.54 billion in 2021.

6. Auchan
Turnover: €1.316 billion (2022)

Having had a presence in Hungary since the mid-1990s, Auchan currently operates 24 stores across Hungary, largely in the hypermarket arena. It reported a turnover of €1.316 billion in 2022.

7. Real Elelmiszar
Turnover: €1 billion (2022 – estimated)

Real Elelmiszar operates under the Reál Élelmiszer and Reál Pont banners, boasting 880 stores across Hungary. The group reported an estimated turnover of €1 billion in 2022.

8. Penny Market
Turnover: €855 million (2022)

Part of Germany's REWE Group, Penny Market reported a turnover of €855 million in 2022, and operates 227 stores across Hungary. The group opened its first store in the country in 1996.

9. Aldi
Turnover: €854 million

Discounter Aldi reported a turnover of €854 million in Hungary in 2021, and operates 154 stores in the country as of last year. The group's Hungarian operations form part of the Aldi Süd network.

10. Metro C&C
Turnover: €405 million (2021)

German wholesaler Metro reported a turnover of €405 million from its Hungarian operations in 2021. The cash-and-carry group operates 13 stores in the country.

About Retail-Index

Retail-Index is a specialist supplier of management information on consumer retail markets, provided by Veraart Research Group in the Netherlands. Its mission is to supply managers with up-to-date key information on retail markets in Europe and support them in their international expansion.

The company dates back to 1964, when it started as a market research and marketing consulting company for consumer products and services. In 1989, it started publishing written reports on various retail sectors in Europe. As of 2005, it publishes its information on retailers through the online database and curated datasheet exports available on www.retail-index.com. A team of researchers manages the data to reflect upon current developments in the markets, collected from an extensive number of sources.