1 November: some franchise shops may remain open

Most major grocery stores in Hungary will be closed on Sunday 1 November, although some franchised shops may welcome customers. According to a summary published by Blikk Rúzs on 29 October, exceptions may include SPAR partner stores and smaller, locally operated shops. For the franchise sector, the key point is that a chain’s name alone does not determine its outlets’ opening hours on public holidays.

Opening hours may vary within the SPAR network

Standard SPAR supermarkets and INTERSPAR hypermarkets will be closed on All Saints’ Day. However, some smaller franchised SPAR market and SPAR partner outlets may follow different opening hours. Some of these shops may serve customers on 1 November.

This does not mean that partner stores will generally be open on the public holiday. The report explicitly warns that not all such outlets will automatically open. A familiar brand name or franchise status alone is therefore no guarantee that Sunday shopping will be possible.

Shops attached to petrol stations form a separate category. Several OMV-SPAR express and Orlen-DESPAR outlets may be open to customers. Here too, the relevant information is the chosen shop’s own holiday opening hours, rather than those of another outlet with a similar name.

When planning a shopping trip, it is therefore worth distinguishing between standard supermarkets, partner stores and petrol station outlets. These differences within the network have practical significance: while one type of store is closed, another location may still offer somewhere to shop.

How local convenience shops are operated also matters

Many shops in the CBA, Coop, Príma and Reál networks are locally operated. Most standard stores in these chains will also close on 1 November, but certain smaller outlets may open under legal exemptions.

The report gives the example of a shop where the owner or a family member serves customers. However, this does not mean that every family-run or locally operated shop will be open. Eligibility for an exemption and the opening hours actually announced are two separate matters.

For local convenience shops, it can therefore be particularly useful to check the holiday notice displayed at the entrance or make a phone call. This avoids having to infer an individual shop’s opening hours from general information about the chain.

From the franchise sector’s perspective, this is the most important distinction in the report: shops trading under the same brand do not necessarily follow the same holiday opening hours. Customers need information for the specific location, while operators should clearly communicate when their own outlet will be open.

Expect larger stores to be closed

Penny has confirmed that all its stores will close on 1 November. Tesco’s standard hypermarkets, supermarkets and Expressz stores will also be closed that day. Tesco will follow its Saturday opening hours on 31 October, returning to its weekday schedule on 2 November.

Auchan’s standard stores will likewise remain closed on All Saints’ Day. However, some services associated with these stores may operate to different schedules, so it is worth checking their availability separately. A store’s closure should not automatically be taken to mean that every associated service will also be unavailable.

It is therefore advisable to do the main grocery shop in the days before the holiday. Potential exceptions among franchise outlets and small shops are best treated as shopping options to verify individually, rather than a substitute for the usual Sunday choice of stores. Reliable planning depends on the specific shop’s confirmed holiday opening hours.

Other types of business may also be open

On public holidays, some 24-hour and family-run convenience shops may operate alongside petrol stations and their shops. Certain bakeries and newsagents may also open, but holiday opening is neither universal nor automatic in these categories.

The list also includes florists, flower sellers near cemeteries, restaurants, cafés and cake shops. Duty and on-call pharmacies may also be available. These businesses meet different customer needs, so as well as checking opening hours, it is worth confirming in advance whether the product or service required is available at the chosen location.

Ahead of the holiday weekend, shops should include the exact date and confirmed opening hours in their customer notices. Information about the individual outlet, rather than the chain as a whole, can help prevent misunderstandings.

Practical takeaway: some franchise shops may open on 1 November, but always check the chosen outlet’s holiday opening hours before setting off.