
1944
The First Biscuit
Our company’s founders, brothers Sabri and Asım Ülker, begin baking their first petit beurre biscuits a in a small Istanbul shop.
Our company’s founders, brothers Sabri and Asım Ülker, begin baking their first petit beurre biscuits a in a small Istanbul shop.
Production is moved to our first factory, significantly increasing production capacity.
We launch a new factory, introducing modern production techniques. This leads to an increase in variety of biscuits and improved distribution. We begin distributing into new parts of the country while introducing free delivery.
We begin production in Ankara, moving biscuit production outside of Istanbul for the first time. Anadolu Gıda is established as the first public company in Turkey.
One production line at the Istanbul biscuit factory begins chocolate production.
The popularity of Ülker Chocolate leads to the opening of a dedicated factory in Istanbul. We extend our product range with new varieties of chocolate.
We begin exporting to the Middle East, taking the first step toward becoming a global company.
The R&D department is created to keep pace with other international food companies.
We begin producing our own flour to ensure the purity of the key ingredient in our biscuits and cakes.
We begin investing in polymer packaging for our products, leading to the eventual formation of our packaging group.
Topkapı Makine is founded to create the machines required for biscuit and chocolate production within the group.
On November 13, 1989, our companies are consolidated under the name Yıldız Holding.
We establish Besler Gıda, one of the strongest links in our chain of growth, through vertical integration.
We partner with Cerestar Group, the largest starch producer in Europe, and establish the Pendik Nişasta Company. This investment yields a strong foreign partnership, while marking a significant phase in our vertical integration.
We found the Ülkerspor Basketball Sports Club elite team.
We begin producing the first cake bars and filled cakes in Turkey.
We enter the milk and dairy products industry with the opening of our Ak Gıda factory and the launch of the Ülker İçim brand.
We begin phasing out our use of wholesalers by developing a completely new system utilizing distributors and sales representatives.
We take important steps for our growth in Turkey and abroad by acquiring a biscuit factory in Karaman and a chocolate factory in Jeddah.
Founder Sabri Ülker hands over management to the next generation, becoming Honorary Chairman of the group. Six presiding committees and a Board of Directors are established. Murat Ülker becomes CEO of the holding, commencing a new era in company management.
We expand into new product categories, including chewing gum, instant soups, and other cooking products. A new line of instant soups, Bizim Mutfak, becomes one of our strongest brands.
We acquire a sizable share of Baycan, the world’s third largest chewing gum producer at that time.
After successfully entering the beverage industry in 2001 with the brand Link, in 2002 we acquire soda brand Çamlıca to reinforce our position in the market. Della Gıda begins beverage production.
We begin producing Cola Turka, with an innovative marketing strategy.
We introduce Golf brand ice cream. Ülker Bisküvi A.Ş. became a public company.
We wake up the instant coffee market with our Cafe Crown brand, following the success of our specially-flavoured traditional Turkish coffee one year earlier. Our 3-in-1 instant coffee products are a particular hit.
We become partners with Kellogg's, the world’s largest cereal manufacturer. It is the first time the Kellogg's name has appeared on packaging with another brand.
Changing our sports strategy, we bid farewell to Ülkerspor, who had won 4 Turkish League Championships, 3 Turkish Cup Championships and 6 President's Cups. We team up with Fenerbahçe Ülker basketball team, the beginning of a winning collaboration.
We acquire international premium chocolate brand Godiva, a division of the Campbell Soup Company, marking another milestone in our growth.
We initiate the Grassroots Project in cooperation with the Turkish Football Federation.
We invest in Unmas, producer of UNO, Turkey’s first packaged bread, and Doruk Unlu Mamulleri, which runs the bakery chain Komşu Fırın.
We acquire the Turkish tea production companies Doğaçay and Obaçay.
We founded the Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation in order to follow national and international scientific studies, legislation, and practices, and to support projects providing accurate nutrition information to the general public.
The Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation is created to keep pace with national and international scientific studies, legislation, and practices, and to support projects providing accurate nutrition information to the public.
We launch the Ülker Children's Film Festival, named after our flagship brand. Children across Turkey receive films from us, given in honor of National Sovereignty and Children's Day. The festival is now a tradition, taking place every April 23rd.
Ülker celebrates its 65th year. The anniversary’s theme is expressed in its motto "A Happy Moment," which reflects the fond memories people associate with our flagship brand.
We establish the Continental Confectionery Company through an equal partnership agreement with Gumlink, paving the way to make Turkey a European hub for chewing gum and confectionaries.
We sign a partnership agreement with the Eckes-Granini Group, one of the leading juice producers in Europe, founding a new company called Yıldız Granini.
We sign an equal partnership agreement with global spice company McCormick to create a new Turkish spice company called Yıldız McCormick.
We acquire the Italian company Nuroll. one of the leading packaging companies in Europe. Şok retail chain stores are acquired.
We become partners with Swedish paper company SCA.
Cash & carry company Bizim Toptan is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.
Pasta production company Nissin Yıldız Gıda San is founded in partnership with Japanese company Nissin Foods. One year later, its first product, Makarneks Instant Noodles, is put on the market.
We acquire Aytaç Et, one of Turkey’s largest meat producers.
In 2013, we acquire the Adapazarı Sugar Factory.
As the leading food and beverage company in EMEA, we acquire all stocks of DeMet's Candy Company, a chocolate confectionary manufacturer with strong distribution channels in the United States.
Yıldız Holding becomes the third largest biscuit manufacturer in the world through the acquisition of British food giant United Biscuits. It is the largest international acquisition by a Turkish company.
Ülker is now 70 years old. Our journey, which began with petit beurre biscuits, continues with 300 brands that bring joy to young and old alike. We have declared November 20th ‘Make Happy, Be Happy’ Day. It’s a day when we celebrate fond memories together with our employees and all lovers of Ülker products. Happy birthday, Ülker!
We have combined our iconic brands Godiva, United Biscuits and Ülker under the pladis roof and have continued our global journey with sure steps.
Şok Marketler A.Ş has realized one of the biggest public offerings of the last 10 years and started trading on Stock Exchange Istanbul with the code of SOKM on 18 May 2018.