Issue 41: Oleogustus; Bringing Together Local Products Carefully Produced, Selected, and Combined in a Hygienic, Quality, and Enjoyable Manner for Consumers

Can you share the story of your company’s establishment with us? How did the name Oleogustus come about, and how do you think this name represents your brand?

Our company was founded in July 2019 under the name Oleogustus. Oleogustus is scientifically recognized as the sixth taste left by oil on the palate, and I encountered this name in a book I read, which turned out to be very auspicious for us. By combining the treasures offered by our geography with our experiences, we prepared our figs, olives, olive oil, fruits, and vegetables in fresh, packaged, and bottled forms. We presented all our natural products to our customers under the Germencik Organic Market brand.

What criteria do you consider when selecting and producing your local products?

The fertility of Aydın’s soil and the diversity of its products are truly valuable. We prefer products that are carefully cultivated by our farmers, produced naturally and organically without chemicals. During the packaging process, we work meticulously, aware of the importance of hygiene alongside our female employees.

How do you maintain your hygiene and quality standards? What stages do you pay attention to in these processes?

We carry out our operations in accordance with the food regulations of the Food and Agriculture Provincial Directorate. Our consulting firms frequently visit our company for inspections. During the preparation phase of the products, we meticulously apply all hygiene rules and ensure suitable environments and conditions for healthy storage. We continuously conduct research to renew ourselves and improve even further.

Can you provide information about your product diversity? What are your most preferred products?

We have a product diversity of about one hundred fifty items. This range requires a very labor-intensive and rigorous effort in both purchasing and stocking processes. Ensuring the continuity of products is not easy; we manage this process more effectively with a good team. With our Çarıklar mountain figs, we have become the best brand in our country. Along with our figs, our cold-pressed olive oil, artichokes from the Dalama region, pine cone syrup made from the cones we collect from the mountains of Koçarlı, and our natural lemon garlic cure made with Taşköprü garlic are among our most preferred products. In fact, we can proudly say that all of our products are very much favored. All of our products have proven themselves in both the domestic market and exports.

What are the advantages and challenges of selling through your e-commerce site? What is the biggest challenge you faced in this area?

During the pandemic, we became one of the companies that transitioned to e-commerce at a time when it gained importance. During a period when people couldn’t leave their homes or go to work, we continued our production and successfully managed our e-commerce sales. Throughout the pandemic, we researched products that could contribute to health and offered them in the online market. We did not face challenges; on the contrary, e-commerce became the key to our growth and recognition. During the pandemic, we reached approximately 70,000 retail and about 400 corporate customers. By delivering our orders the next day, we increased our customer satisfaction and trust. Subsequently, we continued our path without deviating from our aim of maintaining quality, producing natural products, and contributing to human health. The only challenge we faced was the decrease in the purchasing power of our customers due to economic fluctuations. We managed to overcome this by keeping our costs at a minimum level and adjusting our prices without compromising on quality according to our customers' budgets.

How did your branding process progress? What contributions did the consulting services you received from our Exchange’s Brand Patent and Consulting Office make to your company?

At the establishment stage of our company, we first consulted with an accountant and then contacted the Aydın Chamber of Commerce. As a result of these discussions, we learned that we could benefit from KOSGEB and accelerate our branding process. The colleagues from the brand patent consulting office were very helpful to us. Their support, especially in directing us towards KOSGEB, accelerated our processes.

In a short period of about 10 days, we resolved many issues and established our connections with KOSGEB in approximately 1-2 months. By receiving support for machinery and equipment from KOSGEB, we accelerated our production and branding process. At this point, we owe a great debt of gratitude to the Aydın Chamber of Commerce and its team. Their support and guidance made a significant contribution to the formation of our brand.