Yıldız Holding Makes Major Contribution to Gastronomy Education

Yıldız Holding signed a protocol for the construction of Ülker Gastronomi Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and a student dormitory with a capacity of 200 students to be implemented in Erzurum, as part of its support for the Gastronomi Liseleri project led by the Ministry of National Education.

With the participation of Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi, Erzurum Provincial Directorate of National Education Director Süleyman Ekici, Yıldız Holding Board Member and pladis & GODIVA Board Chairman Murat Ülker, and Yıldız Holding Board Member İbrahim Taşkın, the protocol for the construction of the school and student dormitory, signed at the Erzurum Governorate, aims to train young people who will contribute to preserving and developing regional gastronomic culture.

Yıldız Holding became a supporter of the Gastronomi Liseleri Project, initiated by the Ministry of National Education with the goal of carrying Anatolia's deep-rooted gastronomic heritage into the future through education. The protocol regarding Yıldız Holding's contribution to the project was signed at the Erzurum Governorate with the participation of Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi, Erzurum Provincial Directorate of National Education Director Süleyman Ekici, Murat Ülker, and Yıldız Holding Board Member İbrahim Taşkın. Under the protocol, Yıldız Holding will undertake the renovation of the building designated by the Ministry of National Education in Yakutiye, one of Erzurum's central districts, to be put into educational use within the project scope. Yıldız Holding will also provide for the construction of a dormitory building with a capacity of 100 female and 100 male students in the area where the school is located. The Ülker Gastronomi Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, which will be part of the thematic gastronomi high schools network implemented by the Ministry of National Education throughout Turkey, is expected to begin education in the 2026 – 2027 Academic Year.
The Gastronomi Liseleri Project, initiated in May 2025 under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and led by National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, is based on a holistic educational approach that does not limit gastronomy to kitchen practice alone, but addresses it together with geography, agriculture, history and cultural heritage.

"We consider supporting education and serving society as our greatest responsibility alongside our core business."
Murat Ülker, expressing his pleasure at supporting the Gastronomi Liseleri project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of National Education across seven geographical regions of Turkey and aims to train qualified young people who will carry Anatolia's thousands of years of culinary heritage into the future, spoke as follows: "At the forefront of the values entrusted to us by our founder Sabri Ülker is working for society. Sabri Ülker placed great value on education and science. We too, following in his footsteps, consider supporting education and serving society as our greatest responsibility alongside our core business. With our philosophy of "Make Happy, Be Happy" embedded in our corporate DNA, we aim to be pioneers in endeavors that add value to society. Together with our Ministry of National Education, we have implemented many successful and long-term projects to date. Through the Yemekte Denge project that our Sabri Ülker Foundation conducts with the Ministry, we have reached more than 6 million children, parents and teachers. With the protocol we signed today, we have put our signature on bringing to life a Gastronomi High School and dormitory that will enable the training of qualified young people in the field of gastronomy. I thank our Ministry of National Education for initiating this valuable project and providing us the opportunity to be its supporter. It is very valuable for us to be part of the Gastronomi Liseleri Project with our leading food company Ülker, which will contribute to passing our food culture on to future generations. I believe that this valuable educational project, which will preserve Anatolia's rich culinary heritage, will also play a major role in passing on to young people our tradition of gathering around the same table and producing together. In the belief that every educational investment that will equip our young people with the knowledge and skills required by the age means long-term contribution to social development, I wish that the Gastronomi Liseleri project will create a lasting network on both cultural and educational axes."