TÜGİS Marks 65th Anniversary: "We Support the Development of the Food Industry Through Social Dialogue and Collective Wisdom"

Turkey Food Industry Employers Association (TUGIS) has expanded its representative power to 121 members in its 65th year, continuing to contribute to the strategic transformation of the food industry with a new-generation active employer-union vision.

TUGIS (Turkey Food Industry Employers Association), one of Turkey's first employer unions, continues to bring all stakeholders in the food sector together under one roof on the occasion of its founding anniversary. Founded on 24 January 1961 and among the founding members of Turkey Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK), TUGIS has undertaken important work in areas such as food safety, sustainable production, innovation and efficiency over its 65-year experience.

"With our representative power reaching 121 members, we are among the most effective employer unions"
Speaking on the occasion of the founding anniversary, TUGIS Board Chairman İsmail Kaan Sidar stated that they participate both in the field and at the negotiating table with a new-generation active employer-union approach, using the following words:

"With our representative power reaching 121 members and 65 years of accumulated experience, we are among the most effective employer unions in our country. We support the development of the food industry through social dialogue and collective wisdom. As TUGIS, we provide our members with comprehensive support ranging from collective labour agreement processes to regulatory monitoring, training to legal and technical consultancy."

Sidar also emphasized that elements such as safety, efficiency, entrepreneurship, innovation and respect for human values form the foundation of the union within the food industry.

"Turkey has the opportunity to become a regional hub in food"
Pointing out that the food industry faces rapid global transformations, Sidar said, "Higher efficiency with lower resource consumption, stronger supply chains, full traceability and effective risk management are today's priority topics. This process has become an area where regulation and technology advance together."

Noting that Turkey has the potential to become a regional hub with its production capacity and geographic advantage, Sidar highlighted the importance of public-industry-academia cooperation:

"At this point, TUGIS plays an important role. Through our work conducted 'both at the table and in the field', we strengthen a solution-oriented culture and contribute to sectoral transformation through the food summits and projects we organize."

"We are determined to counter information pollution"
Noting that misinformation about food in the public sphere sometimes damages sector confidence, Sidar drew attention to TUGIS's activities supporting food literacy:

"Countering the misinformation encountered in the public sphere and promoting scientifically-based accurate information are among our priorities. Thanks to the content we prepare with the contributions of TUGIS Science Board, we support consumers' access to reliable and understandable information."

Food industry unites under TUGIS umbrella
TUGIS members operate across a wide range of production covering all food categories. Among the members are:

-flour, bread, bakery products

-meat, poultry, fish products

-pasta, semolina, legumes and grain-based products

-milk and dairy products

-starch, vegetable oils

-confectionery and chocolate

as well as major food producers, and also companies operating in higher value-added segments such as:

-biscuits and snacks

-sauce, canned goods and sauces

-frozen foods

-coffee and beverages