Apikoğlu Brothers is a family owned and operated

meat packing The meat-packing industry (also spelled meatpacking industry or meat packing industry) handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of meat from animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock. Poultry is generally n ...

organization founded in

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. The company is renowned for its production of

sujuk Sujuk or sucuk ( /suːˈd͡ʒʊk/) is a dry, spicy and fermented sausage which is consumed in several Turkish, Balkan, Middle Eastern and Central Asian cuisines. Sujuk mainly consists of ground meat and animal fat usually obtained from beef ...

and

pastirma Pastirma or Pasterma, also called pastarma, pastırma, pastrma, pastourma,, basdirma, basterma, basturma, or aboukh is a highly seasoned, air-dried cured beef that is found in the cuisines of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina ...

. Apikoğlu is the first company to

mass-produce Mass production, also known as mass production, series production, series manufacture, or continuous production, is the production of substantial amounts of standardized products in a constant flow, including and especially on assembly lines. ...

meat products in Turkey and serve the demand of its entire national market.

Early years

Apikoğlu was founded in

Kayseri Kayseri () is a large List of cities in Turkey, city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Kayseri Province, Kayseri province. Historically known as Caesarea (Mazaca), Caesarea, it has been the historical capital of Cappadocia since anc ...

in 1910 by ethnic

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

Krikor Apikoğlu (1878–1945). Apikoğlu moved its base of operations to

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

in 1920, opening its production facility in a neighborhood of the Maltepe suburb called İdealtepe. The company's headquarters occupied the lower level of the family's home, limiting their domicile to the upper levels.

The brothers take charge

As business expanded, the company eventually outgrew the Maltepe facility, subsequently moving its manufacturing operations to Alibeyköy. The factory in Alibeyköy was managed by brothers, Agop and Hayk Apikoğlu. This is when the company began

doing business as A trade name, trading name, or business name is a pseudonym used by companies that do not operate under their registered company name. The term for this type of alternative name is fictitious business name. Registering the fictitious name with ...

(dba) Apikoğlu Brothers. Apikoğlu Brothers was soon selling its products throughout Turkey.

Innovations

Efforts to meet the increasing national demand spawned an innovation, Apikoğlu Brothers was able to incorporate from the 1960s. Their patented system made it possible to produce marketable

halal ''Halal'' (; ) is an Arabic word that translates to in English. Although the term ''halal'' is often associated with Islamic dietary laws, particularly meat that is slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines, it also governs ethical practices ...

meats directly from the slaughterhouse. The technique had the cow dangling upside down so that when the cow was slaughtered, the blood could easily flow out of its body. The technique had never been practiced in the manufacturing of

foodstuff Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is in ...

s and the precedent quickly became standard practice throughout Turkey, and eventually the entire

meat packing industry The meat-packing industry (also spelled meatpacking industry or meat packing industry) handles the Slaughter (livestock), slaughtering, Food processing, processing, packaging, and distribution of meat from animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and o ...

. In order to supply the increasing needs of national demand, Apikoğlu Brothers increased its workforce to 200 people in 1987. They also purchased a modern facility in

Tuzla Tuzla (, , ) is the List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, third-largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative center of Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 110,979 inha ...

. As of 2013, Apikoğlu Brothers are continuing their manufacturing operations from the Tuzla facilities, with no indications that Tuzla operations will discontinue at any time in the near future.

Legacy

In the 2009 book: ''Markaların Öyküsü'', (English translation: ''The History of Brands'') Apikoğlu is described as one of "the 304 most famous brands in the world". This designation preceded the Apikoğlu Brothers celebration of 100 continuous years in operation on its 2010 anniversary. The Apikoğlu Brothers were mentioned in

Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...

winning author

Orhan Pamuk Ferit Orhan Pamuk (born 7 June 1952; ) is a Turkish novelist, screenwriter, academic, and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. One of Turkey's most prominent novelists, he has sold over 13 million books in 63 languages, making him ...

's book Istanbul: Memories of a City.

Awards

Apikoğlu Brothers received the Altın Marka Award for two consecutive years (2005–06).

References

External links

Apikoğlu official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Apikoglu Brothers Turkish people of Armenian descent People from Kayseri Manufacturing companies based in Istanbul Food and drink companies based in Istanbul 1910 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Meat industry Food and drink companies established in 1910