Hungary: Trinidad and Tobago Agriculture Profile 2011

Hungarian food-products are well-known and in demand in all countries of the European Union, and perhaps it is no exaggeration to claim that the Hungarian salami, the Tokay wine and paprika are goods whose names sound familiar in nearly every developed market of the world. Hungary has, however, to offer several other high-quality food-products less known abroad. The outstanding quality of Hungarian food-products is supported by the fact that their chemical content is far below the average of the European Union.

The foreign trade balance of the Hungarian economy improved considerably in 2007. Foreign trade in food industrial products made its contribution to this improvement, as agricultural and food industrial products shared more than 7.0% of the total export of the national economy in 2007.

The publication entitled Food from Hungary was compiled to assist primarily foreign buyers in setting up supplier relations in Hungary and introduce popular as well as less-known Hungarian foodstuffs to new consumers in the international markets.

Hungarian producers and manufacturers are aware of the fact that - although they have numerous opportunities - they must face a sharp competition for penetration to foreign markets. They know that they have to be thoroughly prepared to find their ways in the accelerating global economy, in other words, they must carefully consider what and how much to produce and flexibly adjust to market changes.

If they are partners who reliably supply products in the adequate quality, readily meet market demand and offer an appropriate choice, the Hungarian agricultural and food-industrial participants can expect successful trade and raise the reputation of Hungarian food-stuffs and agricultural products. With this publication we hope is useful to the reader, the Agricultural Marketing Centre wishes to facilitate the above endeavours.
 

Quality Food from Hungary – spread at a world standard in :

In the competition for the favours - and money - of customers of super- and hypermarkets, manufacturers attract buyers by varied and equally appealing products. Theoretically, the information displayed on the packaging serve the purposes of assisting customers in orientation, but who can decide if this is really so in the current jungle of the extremely wide range of products and numerous components?

As food safety is paid increasing attention all over the world, consumers also prefer to buy products for which it is guaranteed that they always get the same high quality for their money.

Although manufacturers endeavour to meet these requirements, it is not easy to come up with conspicuous products among the massive choice of goods.

The Agricultural Marketing Centre (AMC) has been successfully operating the programme for the Quality Food from Hungary mark since 1998.

This mark functions as an indicator that provides information to consumers and guarantees regular audits and permanently high quality. The products granted the mark are checked not only when they are rated but also subsequently on a regular basis, in order to ensure that they meet the high requirements in the long term. The mark has been granted to the manufacturers of small-volume peculiar food-stuffs as well the products of as internationally renowned companies in the following categories:

• meat industrial products
• refrigerated and processed foods
• dairy products
• fresh vegetables and fruits
• confectionary products
• bakery products
• mineral waters
• spirits
• alcoholic beverages
• honey
• cereals
• plant oil

The success of this initiative is indicated by the fact that in the past decade the number of products granted the mark has grown fivefold. While in 1998 58 products were granted the mark, today more than 300 products of over 70 manufacturers bear the sign of high quality. As new applicants keep coming, the number of marked products is likely to keep increasing.