Pakun, which started its industrial journey with a single stone mill in Bafra, Samsun, and today turned into a global company that exports to more than 50 countries on 4 continents and invests in Venezuela, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Republic and the 50th anniversary at Sheraton Grand He celebrated with a magnificent ball at Samsun Hotel.
Pakun Founder and Chairman of the Board, Niyazi Durgun, noted that they have turned into a global company originating from Samsun Bafra in the past half century. Durgun stated that Pakun's success is the work of the brave and hard-working team they formed.
Founded in Samsun Bafra in 1973, Pakun, one of Turkey's largest exporters, has left 50 years behind in its story full of success. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ball held at Sheraton Grand Samsun Hotel. The night hosted by the Durgun Family was attended by Venezuelan Ambassador Freddy Eduardo Molina Gutierrez, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nihat Soğuk, Bafra District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen, Sinop Provincial Special Administration Director Yahya Cıngıl, Bafra Mayor Hamit Kılıç, 19 Mayıs Mayor Osman Topaloğlu, Çorlu Deputy Mayor Mert Yılmaz, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Sağlam, MHP Bafra District Chairman Emin Usta, IAOM Eurasia President Dr. Eren Günhan Ulusoy, Pakun's senior managers and employees, Venezuelan business partners, important names of the business world, many foreign guests and members of the press attended. At the night, the guests heard about Pakun's half-century of experience, investments and future goals from Pakun Founder and Chairman of the Board Niyazi Durgun, Durgun Family member Turgay Durgun and Pakun CEO Ertan Özgen. In their thank you speeches on behalf of the Durgun Family, İlkay Durgun and Tuncay Durgun touched the guests by telling about their memories with their father.
“The fact that we have come to this day is the work of the team we have created together”
“50 years ago, I only had a stone mill capable of pulling the wheat of one villager. "And my hopes and dreams," said Niyazi Durgun, adding that he understood 50 years ago that the most necessary thing to succeed was actually hopes and dreams. Durgun said, “Over the past half century, I have clung to this hope and worked tirelessly to expand my dreams. My companions in this long adventure; I had my late wife, my 3 sons who took up their jobs at a young age, and of course my employees. Today, I see once again what a great chance it is to have such a brave and hard-working family. The fact that we have come to this day is the work of this team we have created together. I'm proud of them. I would also like to thank our employees who work tirelessly and add value to our business at almost every level. "I am grateful that they are part of this struggle with us every day," he said.
“Our father was our first teacher in the profession”
Stating that their father, Niyazi Durgun, was the first teacher of himself, his brother and his brother in the profession since the first day, Turgay Durgun said, “We would all grind the wheat brought by the village people and obtain flour. Even in those years, as soon as we left school, we would go to the mill and work diligently. Our dear late mother was also our biggest supporter. Without his love and belief in us, we would not have achieved this success today. Our father, dear Niyazi Durgun, was an exemplary guide for us with his hard work, dedication, sense of justice and passion for his job. “It still remains our compass,” she said.
“We bring our flour to more than 50 countries on 4 continents”
Summarizing the point Pakun has reached in 50 years, Durgun said, “We have taken our commercial life, which started 50 years ago in Samsun Bafra, to a significant level with our domestic and international activities. Then, in 2017, we added our second production facility in Tekirdağ Çorlu. In 2023, we are growing without slowing down with our 3rd factory investment, the foundations of which we laid in Çorlu, Tekirdağ. Our success continues with our wide product range, which we have crowned with the European Quality and Taste Award. We are proud to fly our flag all over the world by introducing our flour, which we produce at world quality standards, to more than 50 countries on 4 continents. We will be proud to take our commercial journey, which started with a stone mill in Bafra, to the next level, hopefully in the near future, by being among the companies in Borsa Istanbul with our Pakun brand. "I would like to express my gratitude to all our colleagues who contributed to this success journey and worked in every unit and level," he said.
Investing in Venezuela
Providing information about Pakun's investments, Pakun CEO Ertan Özgen said, “In addition to our production facilities in Tekirdağ Çorlu and Samsun Bafra, we will put our third factory equipped with new technologies into operation in Çorlu at the end of the year. Thus, we will increase our total daily wheat crushing capacity to 2600 tons in our 3 facilities. In addition, we will produce 700 tons with our new project in Venezuela.We will add our new facility to our successes. Thus, we will continue to represent our sector in the best way by strengthening our pioneering and innovative position in the Turkish and world food industry. During this period, we also implemented our renewable energy investments in the light of our environmentally friendly and sustainable philosophy. We will meet the electricity needs of our 2 factories in Bafra and Çorlu with our Solar Power Plant with a total capacity of 8 MW, which we will put into service in Manisa Demirci and Ankara Kalecik, from the green energy we produce. In addition, we will immediately commission our new 10MW solar power project, the project of which has been completed. "We believe that we will maintain our leading position in the sector in the coming period with our innovative approach and our belief in technology and science," he said.
Venezuelan Investment Partner Abdül Hadi Waked stated that he was proud of the success of the Durgun Family and that he was excited to carry out successful projects together.
Following the speeches, plaques were presented to the employees who completed 10 years at Pakun. With the participation of the board of directors, the cake was cut and a family photo was taken. At the night accompanied by delicious food, the cake made with Pakun's flour, which was deemed worthy of the European Taste and Quality Award, was appreciated by the guests. Famous singer Cevher gave the guests an enjoyable night at the ball, where the energy increased with the Horon show.