Vehbi Koç always worked to serve his country and bring in
innovations. He believed agriculture was important for Turkey, a
country that experiences all four seasons, and in the countries
he traveled to, he paid close attention to what was grown, and
how.
The tomato farming in Portugal and Spain, whose
climates are similar to Turkey, attracted Vehbi Koç's attention
and set him off on the first steps of Tat’s journey. Following
much long, patient, challenging work, Vehbi Koç’s agricultural
investment dream came true with Tat Konserve Sanayi, whose
foundations were laid in Mustafakemalpaşa, Bursa in June, 1967.
In 1970, the Tat Konserve factory processed 41,500 tons of tomatoes, producing more than 8,000 tons of tomato paste. The export of 6,100 tons of this tomato paste was proof that Vehbi Koç’s dream of export-based agricultural production was a success. That same year, Tat Konserve presented Turkish consumers with the first concentrated soup and tomato paste in a tube.
In the 80s, the growth of the domestic market led Tat to increase its production capacity and its exports, including Nigeria and Sweden in the market chain. In 1981, Tat Konserve brought modern technology to its factory with its “aseptic line”. A second line was added in 1985.
In 1983, Tat Konserve signed a commercial agreement with Kagome, one of Japan’s oldest companies, which has been producing tomatoes and by-products since 1899, launching the “Kagome-Tat Project”.
Tat Konserve’s development proceeded rapidly in the 1990s. Tat’s production in its four large factories made it the second largest tomato paste producer in the world after the USA, and the largest tomato paste producer in Europe. Tat shares started trading on the stock exchange in 1993, and it made another breakthrough in 1997. It established mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise production fill lines using the latest hygienic technology.
In 2006, Tat increased the production capacity of its new factory in Torbalı, İzmir to offer its customers delicious products with the motto “real taste, under our protection”.
Tat installed Turkey’s first bottle filling line with ultra-clean
technology, and started to fill ketchup and mayonnaise in
transparent bottles with cold filling technology.
TAT, one
of Turkey’s well-established and pioneering companies, continues
its success in its Mustafakemalpaşa, Bursa, Karacabey, Bursa and
Torbalı, İzmir facilities to offer its customers the most
natural, reliable and delicious products.
