TURKEY
Pakyurek processes and sells frozen seafood at home and abroad
Rapid growth on domestic market Pakyurek, based in Adana in the south of Turkey along the Mediterranean coast, produces a range of ďŹ sh and seafood products for the domestic market and for export. However, one of the company’s most important items is land snails, which are exported to France.
P
akyurek is a family-owned company that was founded in the 50’s by the father of the current owner. Until the 70’s cotton was the chief export, but thereafter it diversified in to snails and frogs. For a while all three products were being exported, but then developments around the world made it difficult to continue exporting cotton. The company dropped cotton and started exporting fish instead.
Mezzemarin is a well-known brand in Turkey Anil Goksel, chief of imports and exports, says that with the move to fish the company also began processing products in ways that had not previously been tried in Turkey, such as by marinating. Around the turn of the century, however, economic changes both within and outside Turkey reduced the margins from exports and the company decided to switch its attention to the domestic market. This resulted in the launch of the brand Mezzemarin, a range of seafood snacks, intended for the domestic market. The word Mezze refers to a selection of snacks often consumed at the beginning of a meal in Turkey. The export market is different, says Mr Goksel, there the company does not export under a brand, but sells goods in bulk which are then repackaged and sold under other labels. From 2005 to 2010 the company focused on domestic sales though continuing 44
Behic Pakyurek, Chairman of the Board of Pakyurek
on its export markets too. Until 2010 the domestic market was very profitable, demand was high, but supply was low and the company saw an opportunity importing raw materials directly and selling them on the domestic market. Until then all the raw material for the production whether imported or not was obtained from the domestic market. Mackerel for example was purchased from local suppliers even though the fish was imported. Setting up a network of suppliers abroad was a long procedure, says Mr Goksel, that called for extensive travel, identifying suppliers and negotiating agreements. Contracts were signed with companies in Norway,
Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, India, Viet Nam, China and others. Today Pakyurek has three broad activities, import and sales of fish and seafood on the domestic market, export of snails, and
processing. On the domestic market the company’s main customers are cash and carry shops such as Metro, and two Turkish retail chains, Bim and A101. The latter have stores all over Turkey,
Some of the range of fish and seafood items produced for the domestic market
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