The History of Our Company and the PICK Brand
Let us guide you through the history of Pick Szeged Co. and its most famous product, PICK Wintersalami!
At the end of the 1800s, Pick Márk, a prominent merchant, opened the first salami factory on the banks of the Tisza River.
Pick Márk understood the spirit of the age, which increasingly emphasized the purchasing of enjoyable and delicious foods. Therefore, he set himself the goal of creating a salami of outstanding quality that could become a personal experience for each of his customers.
The owner not only had a keen business sense but also knew that the art of gastronomy lies in understanding flavors, aromas, textures, and our unique and special tastes. He believed that by combining this refined knowledge and expertise with contemporary technology, he could create a salami of consistent quality that was almost a masterpiece.
This was the closely guarded secret recipe that Pick Márk developed based on Italian traditions in his factory in Szeged.
More than 155 years later, the recipe for PICK Wintersalami still preserves traditions, crafted according to our unique Hungarian taste and community preferences. It is consistently made with high-quality, excellent ingredients and exceptional expertise.
For the brand, innovation is part of the tradition, as PICK's goal remains the same as it was in the past: to preserve traditions while also paying attention to new demands, continuously introducing new quality products to ensure a reliable presence in our consumers' daily lives.
Pick Márk, a produce trader, establishes his business. He requests an industrial license, declaring his intention to operate a "produce commission business," and after meeting the requirements, he is registered under number 175 in the industrial registry of the free royal city of Szeged. They produce salami in several hundred-kilogram batches, similar to other produce and paprika trading businesses.
The salami factory is relocated to the Upper Tisza bank, between Zsótér and Maros streets. The Pick family purchases the land in installments. The new location is particularly suitable for salami production, as the cool Tisza air provides favorable climatic conditions for aging. In the following years, significant construction and machinery investments take place. The Pick factory's salami wins a bronze medal at the Paris World Exposition.
At the World Exposition in Brussels, the company's products are awarded a certificate of recognition.
In October, Jenő Pick announces that after several years of experimentation, he has succeeded in producing salami during the summer, which he begins to manufacture. With this innovation, the company gains another significant market advantage.
Construction of the new salami factory begins on the site of the old slaughterhouse. In the first phase of the investment, the meat processing plant is scheduled for completion in 1973, while the pig slaughterhouse and fat rendering plant will be finished by 1974. Concurrently, the laboratory and the central office building will also be completed. A notable feature of the construction is the 64-meter-high salami ripening tower.
On June 30, the company transforms into a joint-stock company, and on August, the Szeged Court of Registration registers the company under the name PICK SZEGED Salami and Meat Processing Joint-Stock Company with a registered capital of 2.27 billion forints.
The new owner of the company is DÉLHÚS Co., which merges with Pick Szeged Co. in 2006, creating a large enterprise with approximately 30% market share in the domestic meat industry, making it by far the largest among similar businesses in Hungary.
Bonafarm Group is established, becoming Hungary's leading food industry conglomerate. Pick Szeged Co. will also become a member of this group.
The Economic Competition Authority approves Bonafarm Co.'s acquisition of the assets of Herz Salami Factory. As a result, one of Hungary's most well-known meat product brands, HERZ, becomes part of the conglomerate.
PICK brand celebrates its 150th anniversary.
One of the most significant investments in the company's history begins: the construction of a new salami factory in Szeged.