ORLEN has arrived to Hungary one year ago to the day and has quickly become one of the country's leading filling station networks. ORLEN has established its position on the Hungarian market and is preparing for further growth and development. In the twelve months since its launch, the largest multi-energy company in Central and Eastern Europe has introduced a number of innovations tailored to the needs of its customers, and these will be further developed going forward. Thanks to its quality fuel range, delicious coffees in the gastro concept Stop Cafe, DESPAR food outlets and the individual discounts available on the ORLEN mobile app, more and more people are choosing the company's service stations, and its visibility is being further enhanced by exciting prize draws and sports sponsorship activities.
The network was launched on the Hungarian market on 1st December 2022 and now operates 78 service stations, with a further 64 filling stations to be taken over by mid-2024. With 142 stations by mid-2024, ORLEN will become one of the four leading players in the market and its white eagle logo on a red background is becoming increasingly familiar to drivers. On the occasion of the one-year anniversary, Jaroslaw Szeliga, ORLEN's Managing Director in Hungary, sums up the past year: ’I am very proud of our achievements so far and of the fact that we have managed to make Hungarian customers love our products and services in such a short time. Our aim is to continue on this path of growth and development and to ensure that our customers are satisfied with the quality of our services.’
One of the company's most attractive features for customers is its quality fuel range, which includes both standard EFECTA fuels, which help the engine to run efficiently, and premium VERVA fuels, which have a special formulation. In November this year, ORLEN introduced new premium-quality fuels that help vehicles to operate optimally in the cold winter months. The renewed VERVA 100 premium petrol now contains ETBE additive instead of added bioethanol, which both protects the internal components of the car and guarantees smooth operation even in the cold winter months. VERVA Diesel's new formulation reduces emissions and makes cold starts easier, even at -26 degrees Celsius.
ORLEN stands out in the market not only with quality fuel but also with high quality services, says Jaroslaw Szeliga: ’With our DESPAR grocery stores, which are now available at 61 stations nationwide, motorists can save time and money by combining refuelling and shopping. What's more, DESPAR stores' opening hours are aligned with those of the service stations, so shopping is no longer an obstacle, even on public holidays or late at night.’
ORLEN's own research shows that quality coffee and tasty foods at a filling station influence motorists' choices. The research shows that one in three drivers consider these services to be essential at a service station. With this need in mind, the company launched its Stop.Cafe restaurant concept in Hungary this September, which is already well-known and popular in many European countries, offering creative, healthy and affordable sandwiches combining local traditions and international gastronomic influences alongside popular hot-dog variations. Stop.Cafe not only offers great food and Fair-Trade® coffee, but also provides a place for people on the road to meet and recharge.
ORLEN is a modern and dynamic company, for which the overriding goal is development and care for customers. ORLEN consistently expands its portfolio of fuel cards and fleet services, and cares for the development of already functioning products so that each company finds a reliable product that meets its needs. The offer includes a variety of solutions tailored to the requirements and expectations of a given company - its size, number and types of vehicles, business profile, as well as the amount of fuel tanked. The fleet card provides the convenience of cashless fuel purchases, at ORLEN stations. A free portal, simplified electronic invoicing and deferred payment terms will allow you to easily manage your fleet and maintain full control over expenses.
This year, Hungarian customers were also able to meet ORLEN in connection with two major international sporting events, where fans were able to visit the domestic races in person. In May, the company sponsored the ORLEN Nations Grand Prix international cycling race, which started in Hungary and continued in Slovakia and Poland after the two Hungarian stages, where Hungary was represented by the national U23 team.
In addition, ORLEN became a Principal Sponsor of the Scuderia AlphaTauri Formula 1 racing team at the beginning of this year. ’Motorsport is particularly attractive for the Hungarian market. In the county, one in three customers entering a filling station is a racing fan, and more than 30 percent of our own customers explicitly support ORLEN's Formula 1 sponsorship.’ - comments Jaroslaw Szeliga.
In July, leading up to the home Grand Prix, fans were able to see the original race car on display at two ORLEN service stations. In addition, at an exclusive press event organised by ORLEN Hungary, Scuderia AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda and team principal Franz Tost paid tribute to the newly rebuilt service station at the M3 Jakabpuszta rest stop before the race.
In addition to fuel, ORLEN also surprised its customers with prize draws. The company's first prize draw was also linked to the Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix, with those who filled up with at least 20 litres of fuel at ORLEN stations winning a pair of tickets to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. After that, 10 Vespa Primavera RED 50 scooters were given away. In addition to daily and weekly prizes, customers who fill up with at least 25 litres in the current prize draw can also play for a brand-new Porsche Macan.
In addition to the games for valuable prizes, discounts on the downloadable smartphone app make the service stations even more attractive. Customers can take advantage of the permanent 10 Ft/l discount at any time for refuelling over 20 liters. This freedom, and the fact that the discount can be used up to four times a month, is particularly popular with motorists.