The Unique Story of Koç Holding, the Backbone of the Country

Koç Holding, which played a major role in Turkey’s industrialization and economic development, was founded in 1926 when Vehbi Koç started business. from a small grocery store Today it has approximately 155 thousand employees and With a revenue of 886.3 billion TL It turned into a giant community.

Koç Holding, in addition to being Turkey’s first holding company, Fortune Global 500 list It also became a source of pride as the only Turkish company taking part. So how did this success story begin? Let’s examine the establishment and development of Koç Holding together.

The Koç Family’s first step into business began when Vehbi Koç convinced his father to open a grocery store.

This shop was located in the Ulus district of Ankara, where the War of Independence had just ended. The years when the Republic was declared testified. Vehbi Koç started his business life with this small business and expanded his business over time. With Ankara becoming the capital in 1923, A rapid development and construction environment emerged in the city.

Vehbi Koç also took advantage of this opportunity and said, construction materials and hardware areas headed. He opened this shop in his father’s name on May 31, 1926. Koçzade Ahmet Vehbi It was registered with the Ankara Chamber of Commerce under its name. This date symbolizes the birth of the Koç Group and is considered the official founding date of the Group.

Vehbi Koç, who came to Istanbul in the 1930s after advancing his business in Ankara, accomplished great works during this period.

In this city, which has a wider economic environment, he opened various businesses, some contracting works undertaken, foreign companies dealerships and representatives took. Considering the inadequacy of domestic knowledge and technology for the production of some goods that would meet the needs of the Turkish people in this period. external links founded.

Towards the end of the 1940s, the Republic of Türkiye adopted to the principle of industrialization Accordingly, it started to focus on manufacturing.

Vehbi Koç established Turkey’s first light bulb company in 1940, in cooperation with General Electric.

Of course, this establishment subsequently met the electricity needs of many people. Later, it was first established in the food sector in 1944 in the Aegean Region. Çiftçiler A.Ş. was thrown with. Then, in 1952, he founded Arçelik A.Ş. and produced electric to the home appliance industry entry.

In 1954, in partnership with Swiss Migros Migros Türk A.Ş. established and started operating in the retail sector.

In 1959, In partnership with Ford Motor Company He founded Otosan A.Ş. and entered the automotive industry. In this way; Koç Group began to play a leading role in Turkey’s industrialization.

In 1938, Vehbi Koç, seeing that sole proprietorships were not long-lived, began to organize his enterprises as a joint stock company.

This company is Koç Ticaret A.Ş. took its name and The foundation of Koç Group created. However, as the number of companies increased over time, problems began to occur regarding management and organization. As a result of years of work by Turkish and foreign experts to solve these problems, in 1963 Koç Holding A.Ş. was established.

This holding Turkey’s first holding company and became the umbrella company of Koç Group. Koç Holding; In 1975, Koç Family, Vehbi Koç Foundation, Koç Emekli Foundation and public shareholders shared among. In 1991, Koç Holding was listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

At the same time, the holding will be on the Fortune Global 500 list in 2022. ranked 357th and became Turkey’s largest company.

Koç Holding, today in 4 main sectors operating in consumer durables, energy, finance and automotive) and other sectors. to more than 100 companies owner. In addition, Turkey’s 10 largest industrial enterprises today Tüpraş, Ford Otosan, Arçelik and Tofaş also Let us remind you that it belongs to the Koç group.

The contribution they have made to the country since the foundation of the Republic surpasses many companies. We hope their success to make more noise globally We leave it to you to say it will continue.

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