TÜDAŞ was established in 1969 in Mersin by Necati Bolkan and his associates with the objective of adding value to agricultural products.
Initially founded to support citrus producers and facilitate their exports, the company engaged primarily in citrus exports between 1969 and 1975. In 1975,
TÜDAŞ transitioned into agricultural industrial production by establishing a comprehensive processing facility, including a 20-ton-per-hour citrus packaging plant,
20,000-ton cold and frozen storage facilities, a 300-ton-per-day citrus concentrate line, a 100-ton-per-day fruit pulp line, a 100-ton-per-day tomato paste line,
a by-product processing line converting fruit pulp into animal feed additives, a peel oil extraction line, a 24,000-bottles-per-hour soft drink production facility,
a 12,000-bottles-per-hour fruit juice facility, and a plastic crate production line.
This complex has become the largest fully integrated facility in its sector.
Soft drinks produced under the Fresh brand have been marketed both domestically and internationally.
In 1986, TÜDAŞ became the first company in Turkey to manufacture soft drinks in easy-open aluminum cans under the Fresh brand.
In 1987, TÜDAŞ acquired the Turkish licensing rights of the 7UP soft drink brand for a period of 20 years. During this period,
the company exported its products to European and Middle Eastern markets, receiving several awards in recognition of its high export performance.
In addition, TÜDAŞ established a logistics unit for the storage and distribution of frozen and other food products imported from abroad and shipped to the Middle East.
In the following years, the company expanded into real estate and, in 2001, developed an office and shopping center with a total enclosed area of 40,000 m² in a prime location in Şişli, Istanbul.
The Bolkan family, one of the well-established families of Mersin, continues its activities in citrus production and has also developed residential and commercial real estate projects catering to both the luxury and middle-income segments.
Tufan BOLKAN, who served as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice Chairman until 1999, has been serving as Chairman of the Board since 1999.
