Turkish food company is expanding into Europe

Do not underestimate tomatoes.

A book called "The Empire of the Red Gold" ("L'Empire de l'or rouge" in French) was strongly recommended to holidaymakers in France a few months ago. It's about tomatoes.

French journalist Jean-Baptiste Mallet pursued tomatoes for two-and-a-half-years, and traveled around the world from China to Italy, from California to Africa.

Mallet examines the "tomato industry" by starting with an old tomato processing factory in France bought by the Chinese army. He reveals the "unethical" businesses done by the Chinese and Italians in this $10-billion industry.

I still had "The Empire of the Red Gold in the back of my mind" when I was going to the 50th anniversary of Tat, a Turkish food company especially famous for its processed tomato products, with Tat's director-general, Arzu Aslan Kesimer.

The adventure of Tat began when late entrepreneur Vehbi Koç took an interest in tomato production in Portugal and Spain. By sending three agricultural engineers to Portugal, Koç began researching about tomatoes years before the construction of the Tat factory in the district of Mustafakemalpaşa in the western province of Bursa.

Turkey holds fifth place in tomato production

We loved the tomatoes brought to Europe by the Spanish after the discovery of America. We hold fifth place in tomato production - following the United States, China, Italy and Spain respectively - and the sixth place in tomato export.

Founded with Koç's vision, Tat has produced 2 billion cans of tomato paste and 500 million bottles of ketchup in its three factories. In 2016, 65,000 cans/jars of tomato products have hit the shelves under the brand of Tat.

In southern Europe, which has...

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