21.02.2025 11:20
Murat Ülker, who is considered Turkey's richest businessman with a fortune of 5.1 billion dollars, explained why his surname, which was previously 'Berksan', was later changed to 'Ülker'.
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According to Forbes magazine, one of the important publications in the finance world, Murat Ülker, who is Turkey's richest businessman with a fortune of 5.1 billion dollars, answered questions directed to him via the social media platform LinkedIn.
According to a report from Sözcü newspaper, when asked how their surname changed from Berksan to Ülker, Murat Ülker responded: '"Our family is referred to as the "Devletler Family" in Crimea. "Devlet" is the family nickname of our grandfather Hacı İslam Efendi; you can also call it a surname. In other words, in Kanuni's saying "Olmaya devlet cihanda, bir nefes sıhhat gibi," it refers to the meaning of "state"...
"WITH THE SURNAME LAW..."
In 1929, our family, which migrated from Crimea, had to adopt a surname with the new Surname Law in Turkey. My grandfather's name is İslam. If he takes the family nickname from Crimea, it would then be "İslam Devlet." He gave that up. They thought again, moved, and decided on the surname "Berksan."
MY UNCLE AND FATHER FOUND 'ÜLKER'
After many years, as is known, my uncle and father bought a biscuit factory. The name of the factory was "Üçyıldız Bisküvileri." The person selling this business, at the last moment, decided not to give the brand, so they came up with the name "Ülker."
"OUR CUSTOMERS MISTOOK OUR BRAND FOR A SURNAME"
After "Ülker Bisküvileri" hit the market, letters of order started coming from customers to the company. On the envelopes, there were names like "Asım Ülker" or "Sabri Ülker." In other words, our customers mistook our brand for a surname. I had heard from my father; foreigners he met also addressed him as "Mr. Ülker." Our family elders thought about these developments and decided, "Let's change our surname to the well-known, spontaneously formed name 'Ülker'."
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