Food Retail Sector in Hungary - Tesco is Still the Strongest Player

RegioData analyses the most important retail brenaches in important CEE countries every year. The current edition of the “RegioData Retail Lists” contains data regarding the crisis year 2009, for example in the Hungarian food sector.

Hungary has been hit heavily by the crisis compared to other countries in the region. The purchasing power in Hungary dropped in only one year by more than 3,5%. The decreasing purchasing power has immediate effects on the retail sales. Besides there was an increase of the value added tax of 5 percentage points, which diminished the consumption mood. Not only retail sectors trading with long-term goods (like electronical or furniture goods) were hit by the decreases, but also the sales in the food retail sector dropped.

Last year the food market was dominated once again by Tesco. The market leader has now more than 100 hypermarkets as well as 70 further supermarkets and convenience stores, like Tesco Express. Discount formats also had a good year. Lidl, Penny, Aldi and Profi have expanded strongly and increased the sales of the discount segment (rate adjusted).

All details regarding the Hungarian food sector and 7 other retail branches can be found in the RegioData Retail Lists.