Birol Altınkılıç, the founder of Altınmarka and Kahve Dünyası, has passed away.

Birol Altınkılıç , a leading figure in Turkey's food sector and the founder of Altınmarka Group and Kahve Dünyası , passed away at the age of 66.

Altınkılıç, who was in Monte Carlo with his family to celebrate his 66th birthday, reportedly fell ill while on his way to the airport to return to Türkiye. He was taken to the hospital, where it was reported that he had suffered a heart attack and could not be saved despite medical intervention.

From the Spice Bazaar to the Global Food Industry

Birol Altınkılıç's journey in business began at a young age in his father's shop in the Egyptian Bazaar. At the age of 16, he and his older brother were importing black pepper, coffee, and cocoa in Tahtakale, and over the years, he transferred the experience he gained to industrial investments.

Altınkılıç, who started production by founding Altınmarka in 1992, spearheaded the company's international growth in the cocoa and chocolate sector. Over the years, Altınmarka has become one of the world's leading industrial cocoa producers.

Altınkılıç's investments were not limited to cocoa production. In 2003, Detay Coffee, in 2004 Kahve Dünyası, in 2009 Detay Chocolate, and in 2013 ALCOA, based in Bulgaria, joined the growing structure of the group.

He transformed Kahve Dünyası into one of Türkiye's leading brands.

Founded by Birol Altınkılıç, Kahve Dünyası opened its first store in Eminönü, Istanbul in 2004. Over the years, the brand grew throughout Turkey and expanded internationally, becoming one of the leading Turkish brands in the coffee and chocolate sector.

Altınmarka Group, with its integrated structure extending from production to retail, has expanded its operations in the cocoa, chocolate, and coffee sectors. The group completed 2024 with a consolidated turnover of 1,7 billion euros.

With a business career spanning from cocoa trading to industrial production, and from chocolate to coffee retail, Birol Altınkılıç has left a significant mark on the Turkish food industry.