Albayrak Group

Albayrak Group is a Turkish multinational conglomerate company based in Istanbul, Turkey. For its first three decades the company was mainly active in the construction industry before expanding its activities to other sectors after 1982, including manufacturing, transport, logistics, waste management, media, port investments and operations, fleet rental and tourism. It acquired the Yeni Şafak newspaper in 1997.

The group has been contracted by the government multiple times because of its close ties with AK Parti. It is also active internationally and has worked in various constructions projects such as the Lahore Metro Bus, and is currently managing Mogadishu Port in Somalia, the Conakry port in Guinea, the Port of Baku in Azerbaïdjan and the Pointe-Noire Port in Republic of the Congo.

History
Albayrak Group is a joint venture by Ahmet Albayrak and his brothers Bayram Albayrak, Nuri Albayrak, Kazım Albayrak, Mustafa Albayrak, and Muzaffer Albayrak. The group kicked off commercial activities in 1952 in construction industry upon initiatives by Hacı Ahmet Albayrak.

Albayrak Group operates in various sectors including construction, industry, services, logistics, and media through nearly 80 companies and publishing brands. Its workforce comprises over 15,000 individuals spread across its affiliates worldwide. Additionally, stocks of public limited companies affiliated with the Group, notably TÜMOSAN Motor ve Traktör (TMSN), Trabzon Liman İşletmeciliği (TLMAN), Platform Turizm Taşımacılık (PLTUR), and Ereğli Tekstil (ERGLI), are listed and traded on the Borsa Istanbul Stock Exchange.

Albayrak Group, alongside its activities in Turkey, is engaged in international operations in port operation management, construction, public transportation, waste management and real estate industries across various countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Founded in 1952, Albayrak Construction stands as the inaugural establishment of the group. Over the years, the company has spearheaded a diverse array of significant construction projects, such as the Muş Train Station (1954), the 4. Levent-Taksim Subway (2001), and the Kartal-Kaynarca Subway (2007), along with the construction of tunnels, plants, shopping malls, hospitals, stadiums, and collective housing projects. Since 2010, Albayrak Construction has also been involved in international endeavors.

The Albayrak Group commenced its operations in personnel transportation in 1980. Over the subsequent years, it broadened its range of services to include fleet leasing. Consolidating its operations in the service industry, it formed the Platform Turizm company. The company provides transportation services in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad in Pakistan, as well as in the Guinean capital city of Conakry.

Nakil Lojistik provides logistics services to companies operating in different sectors while being engaged in intermodal transportation. Havabüs has been operating passenger shuttles from/to airports/city centers since 2011. The Group has established a waste recycling plant in Istanbul in 1992, which was the first initiative of Turkey in this field. Group companies offering services in waste management were united under the roof of Yeşil Adamlar in 2010. Bayfa Geri Dönüşüm became operational in 2009 for systematic collection and recycling of wastes.

Ereğli Tekstil, founded in 1934 by Sümerbank, underwent privatization in 1997 and subsequently came under the ownership of the Albayrak Group. The factory specializes in producing both camouflage and non-camouflage uniforms utilizing nano-technology, tailored for use in diverse climates ranging from cold to hot, catering to military and police personnel. Established in 1998, Vogel Spor Tekstil primarily focuses on crafting specialized garments, boots, safety shoes, and accessories aimed at enhancing workplace safety across various sectors, including military and police forces.

To strengthen its textile sector presence, Albayrak Group welcomed in 2023 Karnawall Maroc into its fold. As the site of Morocco's largest international textile investment, this factory now operates under Albayrak Group, leveraging its 36 years of experience. Spanning 140,000 square meters in the Rabat-Skhirat Organized Industrial Zone, Karnawall Maroc offers a wide range of textile services, including yarn, weaving, denim, dyeing, washing, knitting, home textile, and garment production. With a focus on environmental sustainability, the company has increased its annual production capacity in preparation for the upcoming season.

In 2003, the Albayrak Group acquired the thirty-year operating rights for the Port of Trabzon, the largest port in the Eastern Black Sea Region. The Port of Trabzon serves as a pivotal hub for oil exploration endeavors in the Black Sea. Additionally, the Transbaş Trabzon Free Trade Zone is situated within the confines of the Port of Trabzon.

The Group is currently active in logistics abroad following undertaking of the operations in the Port of Mogadishu in Somali in 2014, Port of Conakry in Guinea in 2018, and Port of Baku in Azerbaijan in 2022 and lastly the Pointe-Noire port in Republic of Congo in 2024.

In 2003, the group acquired SEKA Balıkesir Kağıt Fabrikası and subsequently established Varaka Paper Company. Varaka Paper specializes in the production of paper utilizing waste paper and paper products as raw materials.

Since 2004, Albayrak Group took over the TÜMOSAN manufacture of diesel engines, tractors and agricultural equipments, following privatization of the company. Adopting the National Integrated Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Project, TÜMOSAN has made its first prototype with the PUSAT vehicle. TÜMOSAN Döküm, started its iron casts production activities in 2012.

Founded in 2011, Kademe A.Ş. specializes in the manufacture and export of compact and vacuum road sweeping vehicles, container washing vehicles, as well as hydraulic compacted garbage containers. Its products are distributed to 46 countries worldwide.

In 2018, Albayrak Group further expanded its portfolio by acquiring Sugar Production Plants located in Erzurum and Erzincan. After optimizing the facilities, the group initiated the production of crystal sugar under the brand Sukkar Şeker. Additionally, in 2019, the group launched Mezra Ziraat, aiming to cultivate sugar beet by leasing arable land in suitable regions. Mezra Ziraat also endeavors to introduce cutting-edge agricultural practices and tools to local farmers, thereby pioneering advancements within the industry.

Albayrak Group, active in the mining sector, founded Ağa Maden in 2011 with the objective of extracting and processing various types of natural resources from both underground and open mines.

The group's ventures in tourism encompass taking over the management of Birun Kümbet Mountain Resort situated in Giresun Kümbet Plateau in 2007. Furthermore, in 2018, the Albayrak Group acquired Teos Village Resort in İzmir-Seferihisar. In 2023, the group assumed the operation of Katre Island Hotel located on the Island of Democracy and Freedom.

Among the group's service industry enterprises are Sistemli Dağıtım Hizmetleri, which handles the reading, distribution, maintenance, and billing services for natural gas, water, and electricity meters across several cities in Turkey. Additionally, Rasat Trafik Çözümleri specializes in constructing systems aimed at enhancing the safety of life and property. Nakil Lojistik, aside from its logistics operations, innovates freight transport applications utilizing advanced technology.

The Vartabi e-commerce website was launched in 2022, providing customers with a shopping experience centered around digital collective work. Established to devise Information Technology solutions, monitor digital transformation processes, and execute appropriate technology investments, Albil Merkezi Hizmetler offers technological solutions to customers domestically and internationally.

Joining the media sector for the first time in 1998, after having acquired Yeni Şafak Newspaper. National TV channel TVNET started television broadcasting in 2007 and radio broadcasting in 2023. Albayrak publishes a variety of magazines such as Derin Tarih, Nihayet, Z Raporu, Lokma, Cins, Skyroad, Gerçek Hayat, Post Öykü, Teklif, Genç Motto, Bilge Çocuk, and Bilge Minik.

Ketebe Publishing House, established in 2018, publishes novels, poems, historic books, philosophy books, literature and children's books.

Albayrak Group is actively engaged in digital publishing via popular platforms including yenisafak.com, GZT.com (Arkitekt, Mecra, Zpor, Gazete Manşet, GZTMZT, Jurnal.ist).

With Albayrak Medya Dağıtım managing the sales, marketing, subscription, and distribution of newspapers, books, and magazines published by its brands, and Albayrak Medya Satış Pazarlama facilitating the sale of advertising spaces across its channels, the Group solidifies its robust presence in the publishing and media sectors.

Albayrak Group also prioritizes its social responsibility endeavors. Established in 2007 as part of the group's social responsibility initiatives, the Albayrak Foundation aims to support education, culture, arts, scientific research and development, healthcare, environmental conservation, and social welfare initiatives.

In line with this commitment, the Group established Albayrak Spor in 1989 as a football club. Since 2013, the club has provided training to over 1000 amateur sports enthusiasts across various federation-approved disciplines, including karate, badminton, athletics, wrestling, archery, judo, table tennis, tennis, swimming, and taekwondo.

Newspaper

 * Yeni Şafak

Television channels

 * TVNET

Online outlets

 * yenisafak.com
 * GZT (YouTube)