Turkish food & drink sector news roundup
Turkish food retail sales rising each year
2017 confirms an ongoing trend in Turkey: the continued dominance of food and drink in the retail sector.
The latest research from Marketline Reports indicates a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% in sales between 2013-2017. In total, food and drink sales are expected to have generated revenues of $141.3 billion in 2017.
Food itself is the market’s most lucrative segment. According to Marketline, food sales represent 72.5% of the segment’s total. In monetary terms, that gives sales of food items a value of $102.5 billion Turkey’s rising urban population and income levels are behind this growth.
Beverages: a net import sector in Turkey
Research from Turkey IsBank has revealed beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, is a sector that remains dependent on imports to meet domestic demand.
According to Turkey IsBank, beverage import volumes grew by 37.4% during 2017 against a backdrop of 3.3% nationwide drink market growth.
Mondelez International Turkey closes out 2017 in growth mode
One of Turkey’s biggest confectioners, Mondelez International, posted 19% growth in 2017, suggesting the Turkish confectionery sector is as vibrant and lucrative as ever.
According to General Manager Ihsan Karagoz, Turkey’s confectionery sector grew across the following sectors:
• Biscuits – 15% year-on-year growth
• Chocolate – 14% year-on-year growth
• Sugar candies – 12% year-on-year growth
• Gum – 9% year-on-year growth
Collectively, Mondelez expanded its market share in the above areas – suggesting it will continue to be a key consumer of raw ingredients into 2018 and beyond.
Mr Karagoz says the next step is to continue growing export markets, while new machinery will help boost production efficiency. As an example, a new gum production line is to be installed at Mondelez’s Turkish production site to help pump out 9% more chewing gums annually.
Bitcoin hits Turkish restaurants
KasapDöner has become Turkey’s first restaurant chain to offer payment by Bitcoin.
General Manager Baha Özürün said her company has always been trying to give the best service possible to its customers, and now Bitcoin continues this tradition.
“We are closely following technological trends,” Ms Özürün said. “When iPads first came out, all our branches had iPads. Now, we will make sure that our guests who want to use Bitcoin in all our branches will be able to.”
KasapDöner has committed to adding Bitcoin payment facilities to all its locations throughout 2018 – a move that could propel Turkey’s food service sector toward a new digital frontier.