Ülker

Infobox Company
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company_type = Public (ISE: ULKER.IS)
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foundation = 1944
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location_country = Turkey
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homepage = http://www.ulker.com.tr/
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:"For the basketball club see also Fenerbahçe Ülker."

Ülker is a major Turkish manufacturer of food products, which are exported internationally, to 78 countries [http://www.cenktolunay.com/articles/cola_turka.htm Chevy Chase does Turkish Cola ads aimed at Coca Cola and Pepsi] ] .

The company's core products are cookies, crackers, and chocolates, although Ülker has expanded to other product categories.One of its newer products is Cola Turka, which was an instant success when it was 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.

Ülker received the "Candy Company of the Year in Europe" award from the European Candy Kettle Club in 2004. [ [http://www.candykettleclub.eu/event%20Ulker.htm European Candy Kettle Club - Ülker ceremony] ] In December of 2007 the company agreed to acquire Godiva Chocolatier from Campbell Soup Co. for $850 million. [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119818963262443133.html?mod=rss_whats_news_us Campbell Agrees to Sell Godiva to Turkish Food Company - Wall Street Journal] ]

History

Ülker was founded in 1944 by Sabri Ülker, 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.

The company employs more than 11 thousand people and was the 5th on the list of the most successful manufacturers in Turkey in 2001, while Coca Cola dropped back to ninth. Ülker sales reach 1.5 billion USD internationally [ [http://www.westfalia-separator.com/material/digest/pdf/digest_01_2003e.pdf Ülker Group: From a biscuit baker to a sales billionaire] PDF file, p. 14] .

Functional Divisions of Ülker Group

Ülker Division This division of the Ülker Group focuses on the production, sales and marketing of the Ülker branded food products. The categories included are chocolates, bars, biscuits, wafers, confectionaries, chewing gums, baby food, baby diapers and personal care. This is the largest business area of the Ülker Group.
Diary Division Main focus of this division is dairy products including milk and derivatives, soft and fizzy drinks, coffee, Alpella branded confectionaries and oil and fat production, sales and marketing. This division holds the largest dairy plant in Turkey.
Packaging Division Ülker Group is one the world's leading packaging materials manufacturer. OPP and its derivatives as well as PVC based packaging films are produced and both used in the Group's consumption and sold worldwide.
IT Division Ülker Group has been active in IT sector for a long time, this division has several companies operating in systems integration, software development, PC and notebook manufacturing, retail chain, and a distribution company distributing Intel microprocessors, Asus notebooks, Logitech, HP, Epson, ADATA, Gigabyte and etc.
International Ülker Group also operates several plants internationally including Saudi Arabia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Algeria as well as the Godiva plants in Europe and US. With the recent acquisition of Godiva Ülker Group currently operates more than 500 Godiva outlets worldwide.
[Ülker web site, and newspapers]

Timeline

1944 Sabri Ülker begins production with just 3 employees and in the year end produces 75 tonnes of cookies.
1948 Ülker opens a manufacturing facility in Istanbul's Topkapı district and triples production capacity.
1970 Anadolu Gıda in Ankara begins production doubling the cookie production capacity.
1974 Exporting of Ülker products begin, with a focus on Middle Eastern markets.
1974 Second plant is established in İstanbul to begin chocolate production. An R&D department is also put together to compete against international brands.
1979 Starting with PVC-based materials, Ülker enters the packaging industry.
1983 Ülker Group adds BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) and cardboard to its packaging range.
1983 Ülker Group expands from a cookie and chocolate manufacturer to an integrated food group adding margarine, vegetable oil and industrial fats segments.
1993 Pendik Nişasta, a first for Ülker Group as a joint-venture with an international market leader for starch and derivatives.
1995 Second joint-venture with Dan Cake is established and Ülker Group enters the cake market.
1996 Ülker Group moves into dairy products. Turkey's largest and most advanced diary plant is opened.
1999 Ülker Group continues to expand with acquisitions of plants in Turkey and abroad. Ülker Group wins several packaging and design awards.
2000 Ülker Group establishes divisions to achieve a modern corporate structure.
2001 Ülker Group enters the chewing gum, ready-made soup and cooking additive markets. Ülker Group continues to acquire plants in eastern Europe, central Eurasia, and Middle East.
2002 A carbonated drinks plant is established. Cola Turka, the Turkish cola brand, is offered to the market and achieved a considerable success in the cola market.
2003 A joint venture is established with Hero of Switzerland to produce the first domestic baby food in Ankara. Ülker Group now adds ice-cream brand "Golf" and coffee brand "Cafe Crown" to its product portfolio.
2008 Ülker Group acquires Godiva Chocolatier from Campbell Soup and steps into the American and European markets.
[Ülker Group year book 2004]

References

External links

* [http://www.ulker.com.tr/ulkerportal/en/ Official website]
* [http://www.haberturk.com/haber.asp?id=41034&cat=130&dt=2007/10/19 Moody's rating raised]