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www.konyaexports.com
Konya Exports October 2014
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Inform us about the early years of the company?
At the beginning we struggled with fruit presses made in
China, even on the edge of bankruptcy. We thought to
produce some other products and we decided to pro-
duce onion chopper that was demanded by pita, pizza
and lahmacun bakeries. Since it was a common produ-
ct ours should have been differentiated and attractive.
We developed a product made of stainless materials
in contrast to our rivals’ that were painted unhealthily.
It has also an attractive form. It was sold well, becau-
se we delivered them to the doors of our buyers. We
visited potential businesses in Anatolia, and they trusted
and loved us. Upon demands we started to produce
meat-chopping machine that we have been trading
only by 2005. Then followed dough-making machinery.
Once we have been operating in 13 sqm shop now our
plant is of 10 thousand sqm. We are one of the top five
company in Turkey in our sector.
What is on your product portfolio?
Everything needed in every kind of kitchen. It may be a
corner shop, hotdog, or may be a five start hotel. 75 %
of manufacturing is made domestically in our factory.
Refrigerator is now our apples of our eyes. We have
developed our own fridge by inspecting successful
products from abroad, by getting incentives and support
from Tubitak and universities. We are challenging, and I
am not boasting that now we have been producing the
best fridge in Turkey, they save energy 90 %. We produce
convection furnaces of 40 plates that saves 50 % energy.
We are competing with the best products in the market.
We use the best inputs, and do not ever compromise on
quality. In our factory we have six CNC, two laser, two
punch and six abkants.
How large is your production capacity?
Presently, we produce about 1,800 pieces of products
monthly. 40 % of them were bought from others. We emp-
loy 150 people and need up to by 200. Finding experien-
ced professionals is highly difficult, so we seek them from
greater cities. We do never compromise on quality. Ours
sales are doubled each year. Quality products sell good.
Are domestic companies or foreigners demanded more
by the buyers in your sector?
About ten years ago, foreigners were ahead in Turkey.
However, national companies surpassed them. Presently,
about 40 percent of the companies in the sector sell pro-
ducts to Europe. Our target market for exports is Africa.
Do you export?
Domestic sales account for 85 % of our sales. We export
Algeria, Tunis, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Mozam-
bique, Senegal in Africa. We sell Turks in the Europe. Euro-
peans acts more patriotically than us, they put invisible
barriers for exports. Our prices are good for Africans. Euro-
“We are one of the top
five companies in the sector”
Started as a fruit press producer ten years ago,
Alveo now produces tools for kitchen. Seref
Gundogdu, general manager says, “40 % of our
sales will come from exports.” He further outli-
nes their operations at an interview below: