Ülker is a Turkish
multinational food and beverage manufacturer based in
Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
, Turkey. Its products are exported internationally, to 110 countries.
Ülker's core products are biscuits, cookies, crackers, and chocolates, although it has expanded to other categories.
Ülker received the "Candy Company of the Year in Europe" award from the European Candy Kettle Club in 2004. In December 2007, the company acquired
Godiva Chocolatier
Godiva Chocolatier (; ) is a Belgian-based international chocolate maker which is owned by Turkish conglomerate Yıldız Holding
Founded in 1926, it was purchased by Turkish Yıldız Holding in November 2007. In 2019, South Korean private equity ...
from the
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company, trade name, doing business as Campbell's, is an American processed food and snack company. The company is most closely associated with its flagship canned soup products; however, through mergers and acquisitions, it has gro ...
for $850 million.
In 2016, Yıldız Holding transferred 51% of Ülker's shares to its new global business
Pladis
Pladis Global (styled as pladis) is a British confectionery and snack foods company encompassing United Biscuits, Ülker, Godiva Chocolatier and DeMet’s Candy Company. It was formed in January 2016 as a subsidiary of Yıldız Holding with its ...
.
History
Ülker was founded in 1944 by
Sabri and Asim Ülker, two brothers whose parents immigrated to Turkey from
Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a p ...
, commencing operations in
Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
as a small bakery. A factory was opened in 1948. Ülker expanded in the 1970s to exporting to the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
market, chocolate manufacturing, and packaging. By the end of the 20th century, Ülker was manufacturing margarine, vegetable oil, and dairy products. In 2002, Ülker diversified into carbonated beverages and in 2003 added
Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee is a style of coffee prepared in a '' cezve'' using very finely ground coffee beans without filtering.
Preparation
Turkish coffee is very finely ground coffee brewed by boiling. Any coffee bean may be used; arabica varieties are ...
, ice cream, and baby food to its product range. One of its more important products is
Cola Turka, introduced into the Turkish market in 2003. The advertisement of Cola Turka featured actor
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He became a key cast member in the first season of '' Saturday Night Live'', where his recurring ''Weekend Update'' segment became a staple of the ...
, and according to local sources
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance bar, temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pembe ...
cut 10% off its prices due to the success of the Cola Turka launch.
Parent company Yıldız Holding employed more than 41,000 people and was the fifth on the list of the most successful manufacturers in
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
in 2001. Ülker sales reach $1.5 billion internationally. Fulya Banu Sürücü has been appointed as the CFO of the company, effective from January 3, 2022.
See also
*
List of food companies
This is a list of food companies, current and past businesses involved in food production or processing.
Africa
* All Joy Foods
* Bakers
* BOS Ice Tea
* Cevital
* Choppies
* Clover
* Colcom Foods
* Distell Group Limited
* Famous Brands ...
References
External links
Official websiteMoody's rating raised
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulker
Food and drink companies of Turkey
Companies based in Istanbul
Turkish brands
Companies listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange
Yıldız Holding
Food and drink companies established in 1944
Turkish companies established in 1944
Confectionery companies
Chocolate companies
Dairy products companies