Since 2003, Tegyünk Egymásért Egyesület (Let’s Help Each Other Association) has been active in Pécs-Somogy, one of the most impoverished neighbourhoods of Pécs. Its work focuses on community building and employment generating activities.
The Association works with vulnerable people living in Pécs-Somogy. Besides community development, it has been running entrepreneurial activity for three years, which aims to create occasional job opportunities for disadvantaged people.To expand its business of selling chips and donuts at nearby festivals, the Association launched a sandwich manufactory in 2021 in order to create additional employment opportunities. The business model was designed in the Hatchery Programme. Badur Trustees awarded financial support to create the kitchen and purchase kitchen equipment for the manufactory. Badur also provided further professional support, which aims to ensure the successful implementation of the business idea.
The initial experiences of the sandwich manufactory were very promising. The Association started to develop stable resale cooperation with local shops, as well as expanding its product range in accordance with customer requirements. The sales activities expanded in 2021-2022 (with 10+ local shop partners reaching 1+ million HUF monthly revenue). By the end of 2022, however, the sandwich production became unprofitable due to increased cost of raw materials and energy. The Association had to cease its sandwich production and focus on a new product line - strudels. Currently, the team are scoping new business opportunities such as: 1. selling strudels to new partners (restaurants, hotels etc.), 2. restarting the sale of potato crisps and mini donuts, as local festivals are reopening in 2023, 3. Manufacturing mini sandwiches for occasional orders (i.e. corporate and family events)
All in all, the project can be seen as very successful despite the external hardships (COVID pandemic & rising raw material costs and energy prices). Key successes include:
• The social enterprise was profitable;
• 20+ job opportunities were created for disadvantaged people over the years;
• The Association could co-finance its community activities including:
• Community events (reaching over 270 participants);
• Community garden;
• Food bank;
• Public consultations.
