Birol Altınkılıç, founder of Kahve Dünyası and Altınmarka Group, dies at 66

Birol Altınkılıç, the visionary founder behind Turkey's prominent Altınmarka Group and the beloved Kahve Dünyası chain, has passed away at the age of 66. His death followed a sudden heart attack.

Altınkılıç hailed from a family with a tradition in coffee and cocoa trade. In 1992, he founded Altınmarka Gıda, marking a pivotal shift from trading to manufacturing. This strategic move propelled the company's rapid expansion, with its first production facility operational by 1994. Altınmarka quickly became a leading industrial cocoa producer, supplying major chocolate, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic manufacturers in Turkey and across more than 80 countries.

The Altınmarka Group, under Altınkılıç's guidance, evolved into a conglomerate encompassing eight companies and nine factories. This structure includes brands like Altınmarka, Detay Çikolata, Detay Kahve, Kahve Dünyası, and Baylan. Kahve Dünyası, launched in 2004 with its first store in Istanbul's Eminönü, has since grown into a significant retail coffee and chocolate chain with over 200 outlets both domestically and internationally.

Altınmarka's success was recognized globally, earning the "European Cocoa and Chocolate Factory of the Year" award in 2012. Altınkılıç himself was acknowledged for his business acumen, appearing on Forbes' "100 Richest Turks" list in 2020 with an estimated fortune of $500 million. Altınmarka is a key supplier to renowned chocolate makers such as Nestlé and Ferrero.