December 21, 2022
The 26th iteration of the Joy to Give! campaign was run by SPAR Hungary and the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service in the days leading up to Christmas. Since the first of December, customers of SPAR Hungary’s stores and online shop have been encouraged to purchase donation cards in order to provide financial assistance to those in need. In addition, between December 15 and December 20, 2022, volunteers from the Maltese Charity Service collected non-perishable food items from customers at SPAR and INTERSPAR supermarkets. Customers were encouraged to brighten the holiday spirit of those less fortunate by including a heartfelt note with their charitable contributions.
This year, on the first of December, donation cards were put up for sale at the checkout counters of participating SPAR and INTERSPAR stores, as well as in the online shop for SPAR, so that more people could take part in the campaign. The positive results from the previous year served as the basis for this decision.
“Over the course of the past 26 years, the Joy to Give! campaign has become increasingly important for a great number of Hungarian families who are looking to express their solidarity and sympathy in the lead-up to Christmas. According to the findings of a survey that was carried out at the behest of SPAR Hungary, 43 percent of those polled stated that when it comes to donating money, they are most interested in more individualised ways of doing so. According to Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary, “this year our customers can write a message to the receiving families online or add a personal message on a giant postcard in our Batthyány Square store.” Our customers will be able to do either of these things.
Seventy-eight percent of Hungarians between the ages of 18 and 65 have made at least one contribution to a charitable organisation, and thirty-one percent of those who participated in the survey donate money on a regular basis. The holiday season is the time of year when respondents are most likely to make a donation to a charitable organisation. Because both experience and research have shown that people value a personal touch when making charitable contributions, the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service sends thousands of volunteers to the stores that are participating in the SPAR programme.
During the course of the previous year, volunteers amassed 188 tonnes of food, which resulted in the distribution of 26,000 gift packages to those in need. Donation cards that were purchased in the online SPAR shop were used to raise close to 12 million HUF, which is close to €34,000, and these funds were also used to purchase food gift packages.
Source: SPAR Hungary
Read more about SPAR Hungary.
The first SPAR Supermarket opened in Hungary in 1992, following the acquisition by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) of a majority stake in General Kereskedelmi Rt. Since its launch, SPAR Hungary has been actively involved in developing the country’s retail industry.
The licensing of independent retailers to operate the SPAR Brand in Hungary has proven successful. The retailers benefit from access to SPAR Own Brand products and expertise, while consumers enjoy the increased number of store locations. SPAR Hungary is one of the country’s largest employers, with nearly 18,000 team members. SPAR Hungary runs a network of over 610 company-owned and independently-run stores. The retailer’s online platform is available in Budapest and over 50 surrounding municipalities.
July 26, 2022
