Halal meat in Turkey Part 1: How to get your products to the market
Published on 24/08/2016
Turkey is something of a captive market for halal meat suppliers. With 99% of the nation’s populace identifying as Muslim, and an additional 15 million more Muslims expected to join the population by 2030, this $168 billion market is only going to expand.
If you’re a halal meat producer, the Turkish market is one of the most lucrative in the world.
ITE Food & Drink has put together a guide on everything you need quick reference guide on who you need to know regarding Turkey’s halal meat trade and how best to get your products to the nation’s consumers.
Who are Turkey’s largest halal meat retailers?
Unsurprisingly, it is Turkey’s largest
supermarket chains that represent the best entry point for halal meat suppliers. The two biggest chains, by some margin, are Migros Ticaret A.Ş and BİM Birleşik Mağazalar A.Ş. Together, these brands operate close to 7,000 stores of varying sizes across Turkey.
BİM Birleşik Mağazalar is one Turkey’s leading pioneers of the hard-discount supermarket model with 4,972 stores dotted around the country. All meat sold by the chain is certified 100% meat product, as opposed to offering those with a mixed composition, and halal slaughtering under hygienic conditions is expected by all of BİM Birleşik Mağazalar’s suppliers.
While Migros Ticaret enjoys a substantial bricks-and-mortar presence in Turkey, with 1,344 Migros stores across 72 provinces and 35 Macrocentre supermarkets, it is online where the brand truly shines. Migros Virtual Market (MVM) is the chain’s ecommerce platform and is Turkey’s most extensive food retail website. 8.7 million members joined MVM’s membership programme in 2015 and the service enjoyed 40% growth in the same year.
These two supermarket chains are easily the quickest way for Halal meat suppliers to get their products to Turkish consumers. Turkey’s supermarket sector is rapidly expanding as consumer habits change in Turkey. Expect further food retail market dominance in coming years.
Turkish halal meat distributors and where to find them
Some 20,000 tons of meat products are imported by Turkey every year. As the nation is 99% Muslim, it is only logical that the majority of meat products will be of halal origin, or will be imported for processing under halal regulations.
Turkey enjoys an extensive network of halal meat importers and distributors. However, placing your products in front of the key industry figures is essential to ensure maximum market penetration. How can suppliers make this happen? Trade shows, such as WorldFood Istanbul, ensure exhibitors products are demonstrated to the Turkish food industry’s key players – including wholesalers, retailers, buyers and more.
The below Turkish companies are in regular attendance, and include importers, wholesalers and distributors related to the meat industry:
• ALTINKAYA ET VE ET MAM. SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş
• BEŞEL ENDÜSTRİYEL ÜRÜNLER GIDA AMB. SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş
• PINAR SÜT MAMÜLLERİ SAN. A.Ş
• SMART GROUP DIŞ TİC. LTD. ŞTİ. / GLOBAL TRADE FOOD
• SÖZER GIDA ÜRÜNLERİ TİC. SAN. A.Ş
Indeed, trade shows are possibly the ideal way for international brands to get their products exposed to Turkey’s important food retail figures. In a nation that imports extensive levels of meat, including bovine, poultry and sheep products, events such as WorldFood Istanbul form a crucial link in Turkish trade and supply chains.