Overview

One of the oldest food production companies of Turkey, Ülker is a market leader operating 65 companies over four divisions, with the company’s traditional area of expertise, biscuit and chocolate manufacture, remaining as the core business. With its production volume, sales power, product variety and distribution capacity, Ülker is a pioneer in many segments.

Ülker’s 25,100 employees and 38 factories in Turkey and abroad work hard to manufacture the delicious, healthy and nutritious food items demanded in every area of life.

Ülker is an expansive realm of food where flour, sugar, cacao, fruit, milk and other ingredients are blended by labor and the application of technology. This realm produces hundreds of different food items dispatched to consumers everyday and is of such a scale that the average consumption of Ülker products in Turkey is 93 items a person a year.

Ülker has annual revenue of $9.1 billion dollars. 11 of Ülker’s companies have been listed among Turkey’s largest 500 companies. Companies in the group export to 110 countries, bringing a large volume of foreign exchange to Turkey.  

Ülker, for long well known around the world as a ‘Turkish brand’, has always been an important option for international food conglomerates seeking strategic partnerships. Such partnerships have brought Ülker closer to the global arena.

In addition to their contributions to the industry, Ülker’s companies also play an important role in the utilization of national agricultural production. Thus, Ülker, as one of the largest primary product buyers in Turkey, is also an important supporter of Turkish farmers.

The activities of Ülker, which has become an expert in the food sector over the last 63 years, can be gathered into four main groups:

Ülker (Biscuit, Chocolate, Candy) Group
This group is responsible for the production, marketing and sales of Ülker’s traditional products – biscuits, chocolate and candies – in addition to related food items, such as flour, gum, and baby food. The group has its own production and sales companies, and international sales and marketing activities are also this group’s responsibility. In addition to its companies, the group has a Marketing Management Department responsible for brand and segment management inside the group, an Organized Trade Department responsible for sales to supermarkets and retail chains, and a Supporting Services Department responsible for investment and R&D activities.

Food and Beverage Group
This group produces butter, margarines, milk and dairy products, non-alcoholic beverages, starch based sugars, instant soup and cooking ingredients, crispy bread for breakfast, functional food items, and similar such products. The group also retains the companies responsible for the sales and distribution of these products in the domestic market and the companies responsible for special brands and raw materials for industrial usage. It also has a Marketing Management Department responsible for the group’s brand and segment management.

Packaging and Information Technology Group
This group manufactures the cardboard boxes, plastic packaging and Biaxially Orientated Polypropylene (BOPP) film that Ülker uses for its products. This group also processes various types of packaging and film material to meet the special packaging requirements of some Ülker companies.
Ülker follows international technological advances closely and, in 2007, the Group united its IT sector affiliates under the Packaging and Information Technologies Group. With this merger, Ülker aims to focus on the information technology sector and to strengthen its position in this area.

Business Development, R&D and Foreign Investments Group
This group conducts market research and feasibility studies for new product groups, supervises the construction of new facilities, and manages acquisitions, mergers and strategic partnerships. This group also undertakes studies and reports on possible new areas of company activity, looks for business diversification opportunities for various Ülker companies, and undertakes R&D activities for the main product categories in line with long-term trends in the sector. This group is responsible for the feasibility of cross-border investments and manages investments in nine different countries.

Committee of Affiliates
Ülker’s companies with activities outside of the Ülker’s main area of operation are termed ‘Affiliates’ and these are managed by the Committee of Affiliates. The Group’s affiliates include commercial, financial, real estate and construction companies. Yıldız Holding A.Ş. has been formed to gather all affiliate companies under one roof and to guide them.