{{short description|Hazelnut producer from Turkey}} {{Infobox company | name = Balsu | traded_as = Balsu Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | founded = 1979 | founder = Cuneyd Zapsu | hq_location_city = Istanbul | hq_location_country = Turkey | area_served = Worldwide | products = Hazelnuts | revenue = 372 million USD (2024) }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balsu Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS - Company Profile and News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/6104183Z:TI |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201012120/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/6104183Z:TI |archive-date=2023-12-01 |access-date=2020-08-28 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>
== History == Its history dates back to 1979, when its founder Cuneyd Zapsu established a company which supplied hazelnuts from Turkey to international markets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=BALSU - HISTORY|url=https://www.balsugida.com/company/history|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.balsugida.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BALSU - FOUNDER’S LETTER|url=https://www.balsugida.com/company/founders-letter|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.balsugida.com}}</ref> The modern company was founded in 1985 as a privately held business based in Istanbul.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BALSU - GROUP|url=https://www.balsugida.com/company/group|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.balsugida.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-05-04|title=Top 5 Vendors in the Hazelnut Market From 2017 to 2021: Technavio|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170504005835/en/Top-5-Vendors-Hazelnut-Market-2017-2021|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> It is also a leading exporter of hazelnuts to the global market.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Markets|first=Research and|title=Research and Markets - Global Hazelnut Market 2017-2021 - Key Vendors are Balsu Gida, Chelmer Foods, Kanegrade, Olam International & Oregon Hazelnuts|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/research-and-markets---global-hazelnut-market-2017-2021---key-vendors-are-balsu-gida-chelmer-foods-kanegrade-olam-international--oregon-hazelnuts-300453256.html|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}}</ref> Its client companies include Ritter Sport, Ferrero<ref name=":0" /> and Nestlé. Balsu created a program to enhance the labor standards in the hazelnut industry in Turkey together with Nestlé and Olam International.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hazelnuts|url=https://www.nestle.com/csv/raw-materials/hazelnuts|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Nestlé Global|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2017 Assessments of Shared Hazelnut Supply Chain in Turkey: Nestle, Balsu, and Olam {{!}} Fair Labor Association|url=https://www.fairlabor.org/report/2017-assessments-shared-hazelnut-supply-chain-turkey-nestle-balsu-and-olam|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.fairlabor.org}}</ref>
== References == <references /> Category:Hazelnuts Category:1984 establishments in Turkey Category:Companies established in 1984 Category:Turkish companies established in the 1980s Category:Food and drink companies based in Istanbul
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