Turkish joint venture strengthens hold in ‘dynamic’ market, says Mühlenchemie

After a 21-year partnership, Mühlenchemie and ABP have struck a 50:50 joint venture company in Turkey – ABP Mühlenchemie Gida Snayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi – and will build a production and research facility in Izmir.

The plant will produce Mühlenchemie’s flour improvers and fortification premixes, catering to Turkey and its neighboring regions.

“Knowledge of local conditions and good relations with our customers, including thorough advice, are essential for our business if we are to offer additional value with individual system solutions,”​ said managing director of Mühlenchemie Lennart Kutschinski.

“Thanks to the new production plant and our joint venture with ABP we are now able to serve the dynamic Turkish market for agricultural products and food more systematically and flexibly,”​ he said.

Increasing demands and growth​

Kemal Kantar, owner of the ABP group, said: “We have been importing Mühlenchemie’s products for over 20 years. But since the demands made by our local mills are much greater these days, production on the spot is the logical conclusion if we are to continue our partnership.”​

Mühlenchemie described Turkey as one of “the most dynamic and complex”​ markets in the world.

The investment in a local production and research facility aims to meet increasing demands of local bakeries producing bread and pastry goods, it said.

Latin America strengths…​

Last year Mühlenchemie expanded its Latin America presence by providing on the spot advice to flour mills in Brazil.

The firm appointed a new business development manager for its Brazilian affiliate to better work with millers in the country.

It has also made a push across Asia with flour treatment and fortification mix launches in the region over the last year.