In 2017, Ferenc Szabó opened his first small butcher shop, Hússzabóság, and thanks to its success, he has since been planning to expand abroad. We talked to them about their changing customer habits and product range in our latest store in Újbuda.
Ferenc had always worked in the meat industry, but soon got tired of working with poor quality through no fault of his own, so he decided to will start its own business, which is dedicated exclusively to premium quality products. Its first shop opened on Szépvölgyi út, and soon became so successful that it moved to a larger space in the Rózsakert shopping centre. Demand for its impeccable products and services soon demanded another store, and now people in the mountains could also enjoy its offer. Since then, the GoBuda Mall has also been home to a shop, which quickly found its regular customers here too.
Its goal of using only the best capital and meat products has remained unchanged from day one, so its customers couldn't be in better hands. Currently, it works with around 25-30 suppliers, the vast majority of which are domestic, including Matusz-Vad, with whom it has had a daily relationship from the outset.
„We've been working together for six years, and we can and do source most of our range from them. A steaks available in our shop without exception, they come from Matuz, which is our absolute mainstay product, a big part of our trade is based on it.”
From raw meat to eggs
Their product range could not be wider, with 100-110 products in their permanent range. In addition to raw meat, we also have a wide range of cold cuts, pâté, dry goods, for grilling suitable for marinades, several types torma and other sauces. Most of these are also bought from local producers, as Ferenc is keen to support them. The eggs and pasta for example, both thanks to Heppenheimer's free-range hens, and the Ferencs themselves produce various sausages.
But they stand out from the competition not only because of their high quality products, but also because of their wide range of services. In recent years, the demand for sous vien and ready-to-cook products, so they try to make as many of them as possible. If they don't have the type of meat you want on the counter, they will prepare almost anything on request, whether it's cured or marinated. chicken thigh or hamburger patties.
„People are doing less and less cooking at home, and we want to make everyday life easier for them with these products.”
Several times less
The purchasing power of the Buda side is typically more stable than that of the Pest side, but inflation is still having an impact to some extent. There are no major differences in average monthly sales, but the economic changes of the past months are evident in shopping habits. They have found that rather than impulse buying, they are now really only buying what they can get away with in a short space of time and returning several times a week. There is no marked difference in the sales of their 3 units' products, but which product, in which form, will be popular depends mostly on the launch.
„Some shops were selling hamburger meat in dumplings when they opened, while others were selling it as a scone. If you cook it differently, it's interesting how less of it sells.”
Preparing for the holidays
With Christmas approaching, one of their pull products is the duck every inch of the fatty foie gras, a intestine, and in recent years lamb has also featured prominently. For those who want to be sure of their festive menu, it's worth placing your order in advance, and they'll be happy to put it together for you. It's also useful to subscribe to their newsletter, where you can be the first to know when special or hard-to-find items arrive in their shops. If you live on Pest, you'll also be glad to know that the city's oldest butcher's shop on Mester Street is about to get a new lease of life. Their long-term plans include expanding abroad, so hopefully we can enjoy the unique taste of Hungarian sausage beyond the country's borders!
Shops: https://www.husszabosag.hu/#uzleteink
