History

It was 1949 when Anadolu Group’s founders Kamil Yazıcı and İzzet Özilhan had firstly met. While İzzet Özilhan was operating a small shop in Tarlabaşı, Istanbul, Kamil Yazıcı had come to Istanbul for his military duty. Shortly after, the coincidental acquaintance turned into a partnership.

Their first joint business was a hardware store in the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı), where the bottom floor was assigned for toys and the top floor was for all kinds of supplies to be sold to Anatolia.

Both partners were young, enthusiastic and passionate. They started to expand their business in a short period of time by importing Jawa motorcycles and Skoda pick-up trucks from the country of the iron curtain, Czechoslovakia.

Çelik Motor which was founded in the year 1960 continued to grow through the years as Anadolu Group's firstborn. Still, Çelik Motor was not the only one that has grown. Anadolu Group entered into many sectors and turned into a group of successful companies with the contributions of the Yazıcı and Özilhan family members.

The automotive group is formed on the bases of three important companies. While Çelik Motor imports and markets KIA and LADA automobiles and commercial vehicles, Anadolu Isuzu manufactures trucks and buses. As for Anadolu Motor, it manufactures engines with its own brand Antor for anywhere in Anatolia that needs power. With its giant industrial centers, modern sales dealers and total revenue of 500 million dollars, the Automotive Group of Anadolu Group is the firstborn and the rightful pride.

The Beverage Group is the flag ship of Anadolu Group. Anadolu Efes started its beer production in the Beverage Group in the year 1969 with the Efes Pilsen brand. This start was followed by a rapid growth. Today, Anadolu Efes is a leading beer producer possessing %79-share of Turkish market with 5 units of beer, 2 units of malt, and 1 hop factory.

By Holland-based Efes Breweries International, The Beverage Group repeats the success it had accomplished by Anadolu Efes in Turkey. Apart from its productions in Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia-Montenegro, and Romania with the Efes Pilsener brand, it also produces and markets many domestic brands at these local markets. The Beverage Group’s partnership with the world brand Coca-Cola was firstly realized abroad. The Beverage Group has bottling factories in Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Jordan under the name of the Efes Invest Company which executes its international Coca-Cola operations.

The great success reached abroad in the carbonated soft drink sector was carried to Turkey after a short while. Turkey's most important beverage brands are bottled in Coca-Cola İçecek Corp.’s Çorlu, Ankara, Izmir, Mersin and Bursa Coca-Cola bottling plants.

The Beverage Group, with its revenue of over billion dollars, is such a frame that collects world brands under its structure.

The most important brand of the Stationary Group is Adel which has been producing writing instruments since 1969. The quality level Adel has reached in its writing instruments has opened a way for it to form a partnership with Faber-Castell, which is one of the world's leading writing instrument producers.

Generations grew in Turkey with Adel and are still continuing to grow with it.

Having entered into the finance sector, one of the most important sectors of the future, by the year 1992, Anadolu Group took its place in the sector after a short time with its companies that form the Finance Group.

While ABank became the bank of mid and small-sized business executives, AYatırım is developing its investment opportunities for its customers. ALease is enabling the demanded vehicle, machine, and equipments for its customers by the quickest time at reasonable costs. As for Anadolu Cetelem, it opens the doors of a newest fresh credit concept in Turkey with its instant consumer credit.

The Finance Group carries one of the most important roles in the formation of Anadolu Group’s future.