Balsu
Hazelnut producer from Turkey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balsu Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. is a producer, processor and exporter of hazelnuts and its derivatives. Its headquarters is located in Istanbul's Beykoz district.[1]
| Balsu Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Cuneyd Zapsu |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Hazelnuts |
| Revenue | 372 million USD (2024) |
History
Its history dates back to 1979, when its founder Cuneyd Zapsu established a company which supplied hazelnuts from Turkey to international markets.[2][3] The modern company was founded in 1985 as a privately held business based in Istanbul.[4] Balsu is reaching global markets through its affiliates: Balsu Europe GmbH in Germany, Balsu USA Inc in Portland USA; and Balsu Asia in Hong-Kong.
Production
Today the company is one of the main hazelnut producers in Turkey. Its factory in Sakarya is able to process about 55,000 tons of hazelnuts annually.[5] It is also a leading exporter of hazelnuts to the global market.[6] Its client companies include Ritter Sport, Ferrero[2] and Nestlé. Balsu created a program to enhance the labor standards in the hazelnut industry in Turkey together with Nestlé and Olam International.[7][8]
