Over the past few weeks there have been a couple of interesting local developments in the area of food retailing. First, according to this report on hirextra.hu, a shop selling farmer's products called Tanyasi Áruk Boltja was recently opened in Budapest's District XVIII. For now the new shop (above) is a very modest stand-alone outfit only selling products from Bács-Kiskun County, but other outlets and other regions are expected to be added, with the cooperation of the farmer's association Magyarországi Tanyákon Élők Egyesülete.

Meanwhile, a store selling "excellent Hungarian products" will open soon in Budapest's District III (Óbuda). As with the Tanyasi Áruk Boltja, the first Kiváló Magyar Áruk Áruháza ("Store of Excellent Hungarian Products") is planned to be the first of many, some of which would be opened in neighboring countries.

The new store chain is being set up by Kiváló Magyar Áruk Áruháza Zrt, a company founded with a capital of roughly Ft 1 billion (€3.75 million). President of the company Károly Tamás was quoted in this piece saying that the stores will offer food and other products which a "professional jury" from the Ministry of Agriculture deems as representing outstanding quality. Currently, there are nearly 500 such products, including cheeses, canned foods, meat, pasta, drinks and organic products. Károly added the store chain will also aim to distribute and export products considered hungaricums - honey, wine, jam and food products made from indigenous animals.

The company also plans to open a restaurant called the Magyar Ízek Háza ("House of Hungarian Flavors") in Óbuda in spring where dishes will be made with hungaricums.