European Kettle: Birol's Big Bash on the Bosphorous

The Altinmarka Group celebrates its award with a wonderful party in Istanbul

istan2 — European Candy Kettle Club (ECKC) President Mark Sheffield (Baker Perkins Group) presents Birol Altinkilic, chairman of the Altinmarka Group, with the 2012 award.

istan3 — Birol and Dilara Altinkilic, general manager of the Detay Cos. and Birol’s daughter, welcomes ECKC members and guests to the company’s cocoa and chocolate processing and finished chocolate products facilities.

istan4 — ECKC members and guests tour the chocolate processing plant.

istan5 — Members of the ECKC are introduced at the gala dinner, which was held at the Ciragan Kempinski Palace.

istan6 — Dee Wakefield, vice president of the ECKC and Candy Industry’s European marketing manager, provides the audience with a hstory of the ECKC award.

istan7 — Birol Altinkilic raises the Kettle Award in acknowledgement of the honor.

istan8 — Birol Altinkilic poses with his family (daugher Dilara, wife Alev, and son Kaan) during a break at the gala dinner festivities.

istan9 — The Gold Singers perform on stage for the guests in attendance.

istan10 — Last year’s ECKC award recipient, Pedro Lopez of Valor Chocolates, dances with Dilara Altinkilic.

istan11 — ECKC members and guests sample ice creams produced at the company’s pastry, bakery and ice cream production facility for its Kahve Dünyasi coffee shops.

istan12 — A final farewell from the ECKC members and guests from the Sunset Grill & Bar restaurant, which overlooks the Bosphorous.

Istanbul has been the bridge between East and West for ages. Unfortunately, as a result of its strategic position, the city has more than once served as a battleground. At the same time, it’s proven to be the ultimate bazaar for trading, a world marketplace for spices and specialities.

Appropriately, the city serves as headquarters for the Altinmarka Group. As this year’s recipient for the 2012 European Candy Kettle Club (ECKC) Award, Birol Altinkilic, chairman of the Altinmarka Group, provided ECKC members and guests an opportunity to not only visit the company’s cocoa and chocolate processing facilities, but expose them to the grandeur and graciousness that abide in this crossroads city.

Be it a morning reception at the company’s plant — complete with lounge sofas, music and refreshments outdoors, a gourmet lunch at the company’s Baylan restaurant, or a spectacular gala dinner at the Ciragan Kempinski Palace Hotel, there was no end to the hospitality.

Having modestly started a cocoa processing company 20 years ago, Altinkilic has — in short order — created a vertically integrated coca- and chocolate-centric organization second to none. His pride in receiving the award dovetailed with his warmth and welcome for the confectionery guests in attendance.