Domestic growers are expected to begin delivering watermelons to Lidl Hungary’s logistics centers on June 24, after which Hungarian watermelons will gradually replace imported products, and demand will be met with domestic produce, said Zita Szlavikovics, chair of the company’s board of directors, at a press conference held Tuesday in Budapest by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the retail chain.
László Búza, the ministry’s State Secretary for Food Economy, Distribution, and Education, emphasized that watermelon cultivation has a long tradition in Hungary, and thanks to the hard work and perseverance of producers, more than 120 local varieties are grown.
The state secretary emphasized that the government’s goal is for people in Hungary to be healthier and happier within ten years, among other things, and that it is the Ministry of Agriculture’s responsibility to contribute to this from the perspective of the food economy.
Búza drew attention to the importance of consuming healthy Hungarian fruit.
Zita Szlavikovics noted that Lidl Hungary’s suppliers grow watermelons on more than 600 hectares, and sales volume has tripled since 2018. Last year, 17,600 tons of watermelon were sold in Hungary, representing a seven percent increase compared to the previous year; this was the company’s highest sales volume to date. Last year, Lidl supplied more than 11,000 tons of Hungarian watermelon to international markets, she explained.
She added that the Hungarian watermelon sector is capable of both preserving its traditions and flexibly adapting to modern consumer demands.
The chairman of the board said that an important goal for Lidl is to work with as many domestic producers and manufacturers as possible so that more Hungarian products reach customers. As a result of the “Lidl for Hungarian Suppliers” program, they now work with nearly 500 Hungarian businesses, and the retail chain’s product range includes approximately 6,000 domestic items, thereby offering stable market opportunities to Hungarian companies.
The program’s success in foreign markets and the international competitiveness of domestic products are evidenced by the fact that while 36 Hungarian suppliers’ products reached Lidl stores abroad at the program’s launch, last year, 124 domestic companies’ 671 products were available in 28 Lidl countries, and the total value of Hungarian exports exceeded 161 billion forints (461 million euros), Szlavikovics announced.
Via MTI; Featured image: Pixabay