Ülker
 | |
| Product type | a.o. biscuits, chocolates |
|---|---|
| Owner | Pladis |
| Country | Turkey |
| Introduced | 22 February 1944 |
| Website | www.ulker.com.tr |
Ülker is a brand owned by Pladis, itself a company owned by Yıldız Holding. Pladis was formed in 2016 by a merger of Godiva Chocolatier, DeMet's Candy Company, United Biscuits, and the Ülker company, at the time a major Turkish manufacturer of food products.[1] Ülker products are exported to over 100 countries.
The core products are biscuits, cookies, crackers, and chocolates, although Ülker has expanded to other product categories. One of its more recent products is Cola Turka, introduced in the Turkish market in 2003. The advertisement of Cola Turka featured actor Chevy Chase and according to local sources Coca-Cola cut 10% off its prices due to the success of the Cola Turka launch.[2]
Ülker received the "Candy Company of the Year in Europe" award from the European Candy Kettle Club in 2004.[3]
History
Ülker was founded in 1944 by Sabri and Asim Ülker, two brothers whose parents immigrated to Turkey from Crimea, commencing operations in Istanbul as a small bakery. A factory was opened in 1948. Ülker expanded in the 1970s to exporting to the Middle East 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, ice cream and baby food to its product range.[citation needed]
The company employed more than 41,000 people and was the 5th on the list of the most successful[weasel words] manufacturers in Turkey in 2001[citation needed], while Coca-Cola dropped back to ninth. Ülker sales reaches $1.5 billion internationally.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Our story". Pladis. 2016. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
- ^ Chevy Chase does Turkish Cola ads aimed at Coca-Cola and Pepsi at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-08-24)
- ^ European Candy Kettle Club - Ülker ceremony Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ülker Group: From a biscuit baker to a sales billionaire PDF file, p. 14.
External links
