A new HUF 10 billion tomato processing factory is set to be built in Mezőberény, a town in Békés County, marking a significant investment in Hungary’s agricultural and food processing sector. The project will receive HUF 5 billion in state support, according to an announcement by Béla Dankó, the region’s Member of Parliament.
The facility will be developed by Aranyfácán Product Kft., a company known for its long-standing role in Hungary’s tomato processing industry. Dankó described the investment as another step toward strengthening Hungary’s rural economy, highlighting its potential to create new jobs, generate local tax revenue, and provide a stable market for farmers in the surrounding region.
A Boost for Local Agriculture
For Mezőberény — a town of just over 9,000 residents — the project could become one of the most significant industrial developments in recent years.
Local mayor István Siklósi noted that the municipality has been working with the company for five years to bring the investment to the town. Land preparation has already been completed and the factory plans are finalised. The new facility is expected to be located near the 120 railway line, a location that could help streamline logistics and distribution.
The development is also expected to benefit local farmers. Processing facilities are essential for agricultural regions, as they provide nearby markets for raw produce and reduce transportation costs for growers.
In regions like Békés County, where agriculture remains a major economic pillar, such investments can help stabilise local supply chains.
A Historic Brand Expanding
The Aranyfácán brand itself has deep roots in Hungarian food production. The original Aranyfácán canning factory was established in 1934 near Hatvan to process tomatoes from nearby farms.
Over the decades, its products have reached markets beyond Hungary, including both Eastern and Western Europe, as well as countries in the Middle East and Arab region.
Today, Aranyfácán Product Kft. operates on a relatively modest scale but maintains a strong presence in the domestic market.
According to publicly available company data, the firm employed 46 people last year. In 2024, its net sales revenue reached nearly HUF 3.5 billion, including HUF 1.8 billion from export sales. That represented an increase of roughly HUF 200 million compared with the previous year.
However, profitability moved in the opposite direction. The company’s after-tax profit declined from HUF 297 million to HUF 107.5 million over the same period.
Strengthening Food Processing Capacity
The Mezőberény investment could help address a broader challenge in Hungary’s agricultural sector: expanding domestic food processing capacity.
While the country produces significant volumes of agricultural raw materials, processing infrastructure is not always evenly distributed across regions. New facilities can therefore play an important role in keeping more value creation within the country rather than exporting unprocessed products.
In this context, the tomato processing plant could contribute to strengthening Hungary’s food industry resilience and improving market access for growers.
Rural Development and Economic Impact
Projects like this also fit into a wider policy focus on rural economic development.
Large urban centres typically attract most industrial investments, while smaller towns often struggle to secure new manufacturing projects. When companies do choose rural locations, the impact can be significant — from employment opportunities to increased demand for local services and logistics.
For Mezőberény, the planned factory represents both an economic opportunity and a long-term bet on the region’s agricultural potential.
If the project proceeds as expected, the town could soon become an important node in Hungary’s tomato processing industry — linking local farmers with both domestic and export markets through a modern production facility.
And for a region built on agriculture, turning local harvests into value-added products may prove just as important as growing them.
