Dr. Schär Opens Its First Factory in Turkey

Dr. Schär, a gluten-free food brand operating for over 100 years, has opened its first factory in Istanbul Sancaktepe. With its first factory in Turkey, Dr. Schär aims to transform Turkey into a gluten-free food hub. The opening ceremony of the Sancaktepe factory in Istanbul was attended by Sancaktepe District Governor Ahmet Karakaya, Sancaktepe Municipality Deputy Mayor Ercan Kader, Sancaktepe District National Education Director Hale Özbaş, Istanbul Food and Feed Branch Provincial Deputy Director Nazif Koca, Dr. Schär Founder Chairman Ulrich Ladurner, Dr. Schär Turkey Board Chairman Werner Strobl, Dr. Schär Turkey General Manager Özgür Erdoğan, Yeditepe University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Binnur Okan Bakır, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Specialist Prof. Hakan Demirci, numerous specialist dietitians, celiac patients, representatives of celiac associations, and media representatives. Dr. Schär Turkey General Manager Özgür Erdoğan made remarks at the opening ceremony. Stating that as Schär they stand alongside celiac patients and individuals who need gluten-free diets for various health reasons with their broad product portfolio, Erdoğan said: "Now with our investment in Turkey, we are making our products more accessible. At our factory, we produce Schär's most popular breads—pan blanco white bread, pan multigrano multigrain bread, pan rustico sour dough with grains and brown bread—and our most popular flour blends Mix B Bread, Mix C Patisserie and Mix Farina. Along with these, we have also started production of two new snack category products: Nigotti Cheese Crackers and Quinotti Quinoa Crackers." Aiming to Provide Greater Support to Individuals with Special Nutritional Needs Erdoğan also conveyed that with their investment in Turkey, they aim both to provide greater support to individuals with special nutritional needs and to contribute to the country's exports. Erdoğan stated: "We are very pleased that with this investment, while touching the lives of individuals who sustain their lives through gluten-free diets, we are also contributing to our country's economy. I want to say with pride that with the factory we have put into operation, we have begun contributing to our country's export potential." "Our Goal is to Make Turkey a Hub for Gluten-Free Food" Dr. Schär Turkey General Manager Erdoğan, noting that they currently export gluten-free food to Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan and Jordan, said: "We aim for these activities to continue and increase. Our goal is to make Turkey a hub for gluten-free food and to ensure our country ranks among the leading countries in the gluten-free food sector. As Schär, we produce solutions for people with special nutritional needs at 18 different locations across the world, in 11 countries." Noting that they have been operating in Turkey since 2019, Erdoğan added: "The momentum we have achieved in such a short time signals that we will strengthen our sector leadership in Turkey as we have in the European market, and it shows that our goal of making Turkey a gluten-free food center is not long-term." Stating that 47 people work at their company, Erdoğan noted that while expanding their current business volume, they will continue their investments with greater emphasis on technology and automation, and will also enter different categories. Erdoğan said: "Since we just started production, we had to make a choice. Otherwise, Dr. Schär produces many different product categories internationally. However, when we looked at what the Turkish market's special needs are, we started with basic products like bread and flour. Currently we produce three types of bread products." Erdoğan noted that as a company they differ technologically from the conventional flour sector in gluten-free production, and stated: "We see our competitors in the gluten-free market. In this sense, we also have domestic competitors. Our hope is that the market will grow by all of us producing quality products together." Company Shows 50 Percent Growth Compared to Previous Year Noting that the export potential of gluten-free food is very high and they are beginning to receive initial signals, Erdoğan said: "We have started exporting to Middle Eastern countries, North African countries, Turkic republics, and Russia. This number is also growing rapidly. Nearly every month we add several countries to our export portfolio. It will continue to grow after this." He added: "Our company has grown by around 50 percent compared to last year. Going forward, we will reach approximately 50 percent growth again. We are in an active environment. In this sense, we are going through an active phase. Our expectations are being exceeded. Perhaps we will revise these figures to even higher levels subsequently." Gluten-Free Products Will Become More Easily Accessible to More People Dr. Schär Turkey Board Chairman Werner Strobl also made remarks. Werner Strobl stated that what they consider their mission has always been to improve the daily lives of people with special nutritional needs. Strobl said: "For this reason, the fact that gluten-free products will become more easily accessible to more people through Schär's factory in Turkey is very valuable. Considering both the need here and Turkey's geographical location, we believe this investment will provide multifaceted benefits. With this factory, Schär will both safeguard public health and contribute to the country's economy through its export activities. This also means that Schär will begin responding to gluten-free food needs in more countries and can touch the lives of people there too." Source