How Kaufland is attracting Hungarian shoppers to cross the border into Slovakia
Recently, the Slovakian Kaufland’s incredible deals have stirred lively discussions online. Many Hungarians are debating whether it is worth crossing the border for their groceries. The German retail chain now offers a Hungarian-language catalogue online, with prices listed in Hungarian forints (HUF). Additionally, Slovakian branches are actively seeking Hungarian-speaking staff.
What is Kaufland?
As reported by Economx, Kaufland is a German hypermarket chain owned by the Schwarz Group, which also owns Lidl. The chain operates over 1,000 stores across Europe, including in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, although it does not have a presence in Hungary.
Kaufland’s unbeatable offers
Kaufland has recently gone viral with a promotional campaign highlighting beer at much lower prices than in Hungary. A recent advertisement featured a half-litre can of Krusovice for just HUF 216 (EUR 0.55) and Kozel for HUF 153 (EUR 0.39) in Slovakia—significantly cheaper than in Hungary, where the same beers are priced around HUF 400-490 (EUR 1.01-1.24). These attractive prices are part of Kaufland’s 35% weekly discount campaign, showcasing their intent to draw Hungarian shoppers across the border for their everyday purchases.
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Hungarian customers, Hungarian workers?
In a bid to attract more Hungarian shoppers, Kaufland has launched a dedicated website in Hungarian, where shoppers can browse the offers available in Slovakian stores. This convenient feature enables Hungarian customers to check out the latest deals and determine if a trip to Slovakia is worthwhile. The online catalogues also display prices converted into HUF, making it easier for Hungarians to make informed decisions.
In addition to these efforts, Kaufland is also seeking Hungarian employees for its stores. We can only guess that they aim to strengthen their connections with the Hungarian market. However, the Slovakian stores are not the only ones seeking a Hungarian workforce; German and Romanian Kauflands also advertise warehouse assistant positions. The hourly wage is EUR 17.85, but according to Hungarian workers, the warehouses are gigantic, thus hard work is expected.
Russia joins the race for Hungarian customers
As we have reported HERE, Russian discount chain Mere is preparing to make its debut in Hungary with the opening of its first store in Újpest, Budapest, on a site previously occupied by a Spar supermarket. Mere has ambitious plans to establish 15 stores across Hungary in three phases, with the long-term goal of expanding to up to 100 locations over the next 5-10 years. The chain, known for its exceptionally low prices and simple business model, aims to attract customers by offering prices up to 30 percent lower than competitors such as Lidl and Aldi.
Although their expansion targets are ambitious, especially considering the challenges faced by other discount retailers in Hungary, Mere is confident in its strategy. The new stores will be primarily accessible by car and will focus on offering essential goods at highly competitive prices, which Mere believes will resonate with Hungarian consumers.
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We get back to, besides PRICE – the WIDENESS of CHOICE provided by Kaufland – FANTASTIC.
We travel out of Budapest on a regular basic’s, like in September, again spending (2) two weeks in Erfurt, Germany.
Kaufland, the (2) two locations of there Supermarkets in Erfurt, we think we are in WONDERLAND we shop there.
We take apartments and “eat in” 90% of our time in our “vocational” breaks away from Budapest, Hungary – residing in District V.
Budapest, Hungary, bit over the top this opinion, but in MANY ways, the Supermarket Chains that are the BIG Players in Budapest, Hungary, it just gives the opinion, we are Hungary are, provided the “Left Overs”.
We travel, we apartment cook in our travels, we OBSERVE if fact have as a “Hobby of Interest” supermarket pricing and Budapest, Hungary – Hungarians do MISS out on QUALITY on CHOICE and are EXPLOITED to a degree, blame back on the Orban – Fidesz Government in large part, through it’s TAX policies and 27% Vat – highest in the European Union, the COST increasing to Supermarket Shop in Budapest, Hungary.
Never, do we return to Budapest, Hungary without bringing back items from Supermarkets not just our muchly LOVED Kaufland’s – that are not available in Budapest, Hungary or are CHEAPER in “other” country’s that we visit.
Hungarians – have got to get there HEADS around the FACT, that there country is in a Economic and Financial place that is CHAOS.
If Hungarians and that’s the IMPORTANT question – if Hungarians accept and SEE this FACT – they MUST realize that the cost of daily NEEDS from a SUPERMARKET alone, that prices continue to RISE.
Hungarians – we LIVE in a WEAKENING Economy.
Hungarians – we LIVE with 3.1 million of us living in POVERTY.
Hungarians – we live in a population number of 9.6 million that is a AGEING Society.
Hungarians – we live in a country that over the period of 15 years GOVERNED by the Orban – Fidesz Government, that DEATHS yearly of Hungarians outnumber the BIRTH of “little ones”.
This ALARMING trend CONTINUES.
Hungarians – the personal level of taxes we PAY, the taxes on company’s / businesses, the application of these Orban – Government “High End” taxes there LEVEL/Scale – for a “supposed” European Union Country, which FACTUALLY Hungary is NO Longer, then on top of the HIGH End Tax componentry – we Hungary, have a VAT of 27% – the highest of the 27 European Union country’s.
Orban – the FIDESZ Government – factually DOUBLE Dip us Hungarians – in the taxes they TAKE from us.
Hungarians – understand it, if you don’t SEEK have it EXPLAINED to YOU, the DOUBLE Dip in taxes TAKEN from us, by the GROWING and Rightly PRESSURIZED – Orban led Fidesz Government of Hungary.
Hungary – to SHOP – for NEEDS of life’s existence, as is the ROLE of Supermarkets – pricing is DETERMINED by TAXING Factors and Currency, of which our Forint, against the Euro continues to be ERODED.
Orban – his Fidez Government – the CHAOS growing they have delivered us Hungary to as a country, they WEAR the BLAME through there TAXES – the Double Dip and the Vat of 27% level, that the END of there created MESS of Hungary, remains an un-known other than to say it will be a Catastrophe.
I enjoy shopping in Austria where prices for at least half the selection are lower than in Hungary while the quality of many products is much higher. It shouldn’t be this way but hideous 27% VAT on all groceries in Hungary combined with the additional tax on supermarkets conspires to create high prices on anything other than things like white bread and battery farmed eggs. I don’t doubt that equivalent prices in Slovakia and Romania may be even cheaper but visiting these countries doesn’t offer the same opportunity to combine shopping with memorable touristic experiences to the degree that Austria offers. Merely crossing the border to the first supermarket in Austria you may as well be on a different continent.