Besas

What Besas does

Besaş (legal name: Bursa Ekmek ve Besin Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş.) is a municipal-owned joint stock company and subsidiary (iştirak) of Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi, established in 1979 to provide affordable, quality bakery and food products to Bursa citizens and to act as a market price stabilizer. Headquartered in a 13,500 m² facility in the Bursa Organized Industrial Zone, the company operates Turkey's third-largest and Bursa's largest bread production facility, with five tunnel-type ovens producing 12,700 loaves/hour (~200,000 loaves/day; 70 million loaves/year) and covering approximately 20% of Bursa's daily bread consumption. Its product portfolio spans four categories: (1) baked goods including standard breads (Francala, Kepekli, Tam Buğdaylı, Çavdarlı, Ayçekirdekli, Tam Tahıllı), heritage wheat specialties (Organik Siyez, Karakılçık, Nohut Mayalı Akdeniz Ada Ekmeği), and small rolls; (2) dairy products (pasteurized milk, yogurt, white cheese, kashar, butter, ayran) produced at the Keles facility processing 30 tons of milk/day from regional mountain-district cooperatives; (3) commercial/grocery items including olive oil, honey, tahini, and eggs; and (4) specialty gluten-free products for celiac and PKU patients.

Besaş's distribution is multi-channel and dense: 500+ dealer/bayi points across 8 Bursa districts, 35 dedicated temperature-controlled distribution vehicles, factory-owned retail stores (the first opened in Gemlik in September 2024), and the Sanal Büfe e-commerce platform. The company holds TS-ISO-EN 9001, ISO 22000, TS OIC/SMIIC 1 Halal, and TS Service Adequacy certifications, and operates an R&D center co-located with Uludağ University featuring analysis laboratories, a 7,500 roll-breads/hour lamination line, and rotary/matador ovens. Pricing is unit-based Pay-as-you-go in Turkish Lira, with bread kept ~33% below market average (~30 TL/kg vs. ~50 TL/kg market). As a public-utility enterprise, Besaş generates revenue through bread, dairy, and grocery sales while simultaneously fulfilling a municipal social mandate: distributing 5,000 free breads daily to economically disadvantaged citizens and supplying daily milk to ~45,000 first-grade students. All investments are reportedly self-funded from operating profits, and no venture capital, private equity, or external institutional investment is indicated. The company is led by General Manager İbrahim Alpay Demirtaş with M. Orkun Gazioğlu (Bursa Deputy Mayor) serving as Chairman of the Board following 2024 leadership transitions.

Name

Besas

Legal name

Bursa Ekmek ve Besin Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş.

Website

https://besasekmek.com.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Besaş is a Bursa Metropolitan Municipality-owned bakery and dairy company producing bread, milk, and staple foods for Bursa citizens, operating Turkey's third-largest bread facility and serving ~20% of Bursa's daily bread demand through 500+ dealer points.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Bakery and Dairy Manufacturing

NAICS

Commercial Bakeries (311812), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Bakery & Confectionery Wholesale (AFAIABAG)

Keywords

• Industrial bread production
• Dairy manufacturing
• Bakery products
• Heritage wheat processing
• Municipal food services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nilüfer

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bread and Bakery Product Sales: BESAŞ operates as a public utility bakery producing bread and bakery products sold through dealer networks, retail stores, and e-commerce. As a municipal subsidiary (iştirak), its primary mission is providing affordable, quality bread to Bursa citizens as a market price stabilizer, not primarily profit maximization.
2. Dairy and Milk Product Sales: BESAŞ Keles Süt Tesisi processes milk from regional farmers and produces dairy products including ayran, yogurt, white cheese, butter, and kashar cheese sold through the same distribution channels as bakery products.
3. Commercial/Grocery Products: Sale of commercial grocery items including eggs, olive oil, honey, tahini, molasses, jam, and pasta products, including both BESAŞ-branded and third-party branded goods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BESAŞ manufactures and distributes bread, bakery products, dairy products, and selected grocery items through its Bursa Organized Industrial Zone factory and Keles dairy facility. The company is a municipal-owned public utility whose core offering is affordable, hygienic staple foods—including 17+ bread varieties, pasteurized milk, ayran, yogurt, cheese, butter, and heritage-wheat specialty products—sold directly to consumers and dealers across Bursa province. The company also operates social responsibility programs distributing free bread to low-income citizens.

Product overview

BESAŞ (Bursa Ekmek ve Besin Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş.) is a municipal-owned bakery and food company operating under Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi. Founded in 1979, it is Turkey's third-largest and Bursa's largest bread production facility. The company operates as a unified product portfolio consisting of: (1) Baked goods including various breads (Francala, Kepekli, Tam Buğdaylı, Çavdarlı, Ayçekirdekli, Tam Tahıllı, Ruşeymli, Yulaflı), specialty heritage wheat breads (Siyez, Karakılçık, Nohut Mayalı Ada Ekmeği), and small rolls (Küçük Ekmek, Tuzsuz Ekmek, Şampiyon Ekmek); (2) Dairy products including milk (Pastörize Günlük Süt), yogurt (Yoğurt, Süzme Yoğurt), cheese (Beyaz Peynir, Gurme Kaşar, Tost Peyniri, Krem Peynir, Lor), butter (Gurme Tereyağ), and ayran; (3) Commercial grocery products including olive oil, honey, tahini, jam, and cooking oils; (4) Specialty gluten-free products for celiac patients. The company operates two main facilities: the Central Factory in Bursa Organized Industrial Zone and the Keles Milk and Dairy Products Facility. Products are distributed through over 500 sales points across Bursa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BESAŞ Gurme: Premium gourmet product line including butter and cheese
• Şehrim

Products and services

• Besaş Francala Ekmek Classic French-style bread loaf, 400g, sold at 17.50 TL. BESAŞ's flagship bread product supplying approximately 20% of Bursa's daily bread consumption.
• Besaş Tam Buğdaylı Ekmek
• Besaş Kepekli Ekmek Bran bread, 400g, sold at 25.00 TL. Known for low energy value and providing a feeling of fullness.
• Besaş Çavdarlı Ekmek Rye bread, 400g. Claimed to help prevent rises in blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
• Besaş Ayçekirdekli Ekmek Sunflower seed bread, 400g. Contains vitamin E with protective properties for the body.
• Besaş Tam Tahıllı Ekmek Whole grain bread, 400g. High fiber content provides more satisfying qualities.
• Besaş Organik Siyez Tam Buğday Ekmeği Organic spelt whole wheat bread, 400g, sold at 55.00 TL. Made from heritage spelt wheat (siyez) sourced from regional Bursa farmers.
• Karakılçık Ekmeği Karakılçık wheat bread, 400g, sold at 55.00 TL. Made from one of Anatolia's oldest wheat varieties, stone-milled, high protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Nohut Mayalı Akdeniz Ada Ekmeği Chickpea-leavened Aegean Island bread, 400g, sold at 40.00 TL. Traditional recipe from Cretan immigrants, adapted for industrial production.
• Besaş Küçük Ekmek Small bread roll, 50g, designed for controlled consumption to avoid waste.
• Besaş Tuzsuz Küçük Ekmek Salt-free small bread roll, 50g. Designed for those with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke prevention.
• Besaş Ayran Ayran (yogurt drink), 180ml. Contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins B2, B1, B12. Helps maintain body fluid balance.
• Besaş Pastörize Günlük Taze Süt Pasteurized fresh milk, 1 liter, 3% fat, sold at 49.90 TL. Contains calcium for bone strength, lactose for energy, and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K.
• Besaş Yoğurt (Tava Yoğurt) Yogurt, 1000g, sold at 99.90 TL. Dairy product produced at BESAŞ Keles facility.
• Besaş Gurme Kaşar Gourmet kashar cheese, 400g. Premium cheese product from BESAŞ Keles facility.
• Besaş Gurme Tereyağ Gourmet butter, 500g, sold at 270.00 TL. Premium butter product under the BESAŞ Gurme sub-brand.
• Klasik Beyaz Peynir (Lokum) Classic white cheese (lokum style), sold by kilogram at 395.00 TL. Traditional white cheese produced at BESAŞ Keles facility.
• BESAŞ Bal (Honey) BESAŞ Honey, 850g, sold at 220.00 TL. Natural honey product sold under the BESAŞ brand.
• Şehrim Kemalpaşa Tatlısı Şehrim Kemalpaşa dessert, 140g. Regional sweet specialty from the Bursa area sold under the Şehrim sub-brand.
• İ.H.E. Çölyaklılar İçin Glutensiz Ekmek Gluten-free bread for celiac patients, 50g. Specialty dietary product for individuals with celiac disease and phenylketonuria.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bread price kept ~33% below market average (BESAŞ ~30 TL/kg vs. market ~50 TL/kg)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Giritya Mudanya Giritliler ve Yanyalılar Kültür ve Dayanışma DerneğiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2024BESAŞ partnered with the Girit (Crete) Turkish community association to produce Nohut Mayalı Akdeniz Ada Ekmeği (Chickpea-Leavened Aegean Island Bread). The association provided traditional recipes passed down from elders, which BESAŞ's food engineers adapted for industrial production using siyez and karakılçık heritage wheat.
• BursasporminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024BESAŞ sponsors Bursaspor football club by producing and supplying ayran to the team under a protocol signed between BESAŞ and Bursaspor. Products are available at all BESAŞ sales points.
• Türk Kızılay (Turkish Red Crescent)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024BESAŞ collaborates with Turkish Red Crescent on blood donation and stem cell donor recruitment campaigns. Mobile blood donation units are set up at BESAŞ factory premises, with participation from BESAŞ employees and surrounding residents.
• Uludağ Üniversitesi (Bursa Uludağ University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2012BESAŞ and Uludağ University signed a Food and Nutrition Cooperation Protocol on 23 January 2012. This partnership led to the establishment of the BESAŞ Unlu Mamuller Araştırma ve Üretim Merkezi (Bakery Products R&D Center) on the university campus with a 3,000,000 TL investment. The center features analysis laboratories, production lines, and multiple oven types for new product development.
• Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi (Bursa Metropolitan Municipality)coreOthers · 1 January 1979BESAŞ is a wholly-owned municipal subsidiary (iştirak) of Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi. Established 13 July 1979 with 1,000,000 TL capital. The municipality provides strategic direction, social mandate coverage, and budget support when needed. All BESAŞ investments are self-funded from operating profits.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Antalya Halk Ekmek: Municipal bakery in Antalya operating with the same public-utility framework as Besaş. Comparable in product line (bread and dairy), distribution via local dealers, and mission to limit bread price inflation for residents.
• Ankara Halk Ekmek Fabrikası: Ankara's municipal bread factory, sharing Besaş's mandate of affordable bread supply with public ownership backing. Operates a similar multi-channel distribution model and serves as a direct functional peer for benchmarking production scale, dealer economics, and product breadth.
• İzmir Halk Ekmek Fabrikası: İzmir's municipal bakery, a peer to Besaş in model and product offering. Both target affordability, quality, and hygiene in mass-market bread, with parallel categories of specialty breads and dairy extensions.
• İstanbul Halk Ekmek (İHE): İstanbul's municipal public-utility bakery, directly comparable to Besaş in structure (municipal subsidiary, subsidized bread, city-wide distribution, ISO/Halal certifications). Both operate as price stabilizers in their respective provinces with similar dealer/bayi networks and product mixes spanning bread and dairy.

Regional players

• Sek Gıda (Süt Ürünleri): Turkish dairy brand and manufacturer with nationwide distribution. Comparable to Besaş's Keles dairy line on milk, yogurt, and cheese, with similar cold-chain and branded-consumer economics.
• Uludağ İçecek (Coca-Cola İçecek): Major Bursa-based beverage company sharing Besaş's hometown market and leveraging similar regional brand affinity. Useful for understanding the Bursa consumer market and competing FMCG shelf-space dynamics alongside Besaş's dairy and ayran products.
• SEK (Yörükoglu/Aynes) — Aynes Süt: Regional Turkish dairy processor with farmer cooperative supply model similar to Besaş's Keles milk sourcing. Comparable on dairy product breadth (milk, yogurt, cheese), regional farmer partnerships, and Bursa-market adjacency.

Broad incumbents

• Simit Sarayı: Major Turkish bakery chain with national retail presence. Useful peer for benchmarking branded retail bakery economics, franchise/affiliate models, and consumer-facing brand investment, though Simit Sarayı focuses on simit and pastries rather than subsidized staple bread.
• Kent Gıda (Yıldız Holding): Large Turkish packaged baked goods and confectionery manufacturer under Yıldız Holding. Provides a benchmark for industrial-scale bakery production, branded product economics, and private-sector distribution reach — categories where Besaş competes via its buf Bölmleri and dealer network.
• Ekmekçioğulları: One of Turkey's largest private bread and bakery producers with national distribution. While for-profit (unlike Besaş), it overlaps with Besaş's product categories (bread, specialty bakery), manufacturing scale, and supermarket supply model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/besasbutk
• Xx.com/bursabesas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bursasbesas

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Besas