Serafettin Memis, chairman of Turkish food industry giant Tat, dies at 63

Serafettin Memis, Chairman of Tat Foods and founder of Tat Pulses, has died at the age of 63 after suffering a heart attack Monday.

In an official statement to Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform, Tat Foods expressed condolences.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our Chairman, Serafettin Memis, and extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and loved ones,” read the statement.

Tat Foods also confirmed that a new board member will be appointed to fill Memis’s position, with further details to be provided following the company’s next board meeting.

Memis’ recent acquisition of Tat Foods shares

Tat Foods, initially established as Tat Konserve in 1967 by Turkish industrialist Vehbi Koc, was founded in Bursa to process tomato products. The company rebranded as Tat Foods in 2013 and, in its 56-year history, has expanded with additional facilities in Karacabey and Izmir’s Torbali district.

In January, Koc Holding signed a share purchase agreement to sell a 49.04% stake in Tat Foods, along with 15 founding dividend shares, to the Memisoglu Agricultural Products Trade Limited Company, owned by Serafettin Memis. The transaction was valued at $80.9 million.

Tat Company

Tat Foods, formerly known as Tat Konserve, was established in 1967 by Koc Holding in Bursa, Türkiye. The company initially focused on tomato-based products and has since grown into one of Türkiye’s leading food producers. It operates three main production facilities in Mustafakemalpasa and Karacabey in Bursa and Torbali in Izmir, specializing in tomato paste, ketchup, mayonnaise, and various vegetable-based canned products.

Historical highlights

• Foundation: Inspired by a visit to Israel in the 1950s, founder Vehbi Koc sought to establish a food processing company. After extensive exploration, tomato products were chosen for production because of favorable conditions in Bursa.
• Expansion: In 1965, with technical support from American and Swiss partners, Tat Konserve was established. The factory began operations in 1967.
• Partnerships, growth: Tat expanded through partnerships with Japanese companies Kagome and Sumitomo in 1986. Under Suna Kirac’s leadership in the 1990s, Tat became a prominent brand in Türkiye’s food industry.
• Diversification: In 2003, Tat added brands like Maret, SEK Dairy and Pastavilla to its portfolio. SEK Dairy was sold in 2021, and Pastavilla was later divested as well.
• Ownership changes: In January 2024, Koc Holding sold its majority stake in Tat Foods to Memisoglu Tarim Urunleri, marking a new chapter in the company’s history.