Kinds of producer
An importer looking for lokum will meet three kinds of supplier. The first is the large factory with an export department, which makes standard lines in volume. The second is the regional producer, working in a city whose name is tied to one style of lokum. The third is the small workshop, often a family business that sells mostly over its own counter and may have no export desk.
The three do not answer a foreign inquiry in the same way. Response time, language, minimum order and the documents on offer differ, so it helps to know which kind you are writing to.
Where lokum is made in Türkiye, and what each centre is known for
Lokum is produced in many regions of Türkiye. The names that come up most often are Istanbul, Safranbolu, Afyon and Gaziantep.
- Istanbul. Lokum in its modern form is tied to Istanbul: a confectioner from Kastamonu opened a shop there in 1777, and commercial production in the city dates from the late 18th century.
- Safranbolu (Karabük). Known for saffron lokum. The name Safranbolu lokum has geographical indication status in Türkiye.
- Afyon. Known for a soft texture and for kaymaklı lokum, made with the local clotted cream.
- Gaziantep. Known as the pistachio province, and its lokum is built on pistachio.
Türkiye also has a national food codex notification on lokum. It sets out the types of lokum, among them plain lokum and kaymaklı lokum, and the minimum flavouring content for some types. Ask any producer which type a given product is made to.
What Gaziantep makes
In Gaziantep, lokum is made with pistachio, hazelnut and almond, often whole, and finished with coatings. Our own range from the Gaziantep factory covers:
- finger rolls filled with whole pistachio, hazelnut or almond, with white, chocolate or kadayif coatings;
- Aleppo-style rolls, firmer and darker, with pomegranate, nut and spice coatings;
- double-roasted delight with pistachio or hazelnut;
- bohça (chocolate-filled bundles), coated cubes and cezerye;
- classic cubes, pasha cubes, sultan and rolled slices;
- deli-counter lokum: baklava delight blocks, moon bundles, cream rolls, roulades and royal rolls, sliced by weight.
The same product is asked for as lokum, loukoum, rahat and, in Brazil, manjar turco. See Turkish delight and special lokum.
How an importer reaches them
Large factories are reached through their export departments. Regional producers and workshops are harder to reach: many have no export desk, quote one product at a time and sell full loads of that product only.
The other route is a manufacturer-exporter in the producing region. We make lokum in our own factory in Gaziantep and ship on our own account. An importer who wants several lines can take them in one load, with one counterparty and one document set. See mixed containers.
What to check with any Turkish producer
- Is the company the plant that makes the product, or a trader? Ask for the factory name on every line.
- Which type of lokum is quoted, and to which standard? Ask for the ingredients, allergens and shelf life on the technical data sheet.
- Are the certificates issued for the factory itself? Certificates issued for a trader do not cover the plant.
- Which formats are available: bulk units for the counter and repacking, or retail boxes, and can they carry your label?
- Is the minimum order per line or per container, and can lines be mixed?
- Do you receive samples from running production?
A manufacturer can answer all of this on one page.
What an offer from us contains
Send a list of the lines you want. We send a written offer within two working days, quoted in US dollars, FOB Mersin, or CIF on request. The unit of sale is one full container (20 ft or 40 ft) or one full truck, mixed across lines.
The technical data sheet comes with the offer. Certificates are issued for our factory. Samples come from running production. Bulk cartons and 350 g retail boxes come from the same factory, in our standard packs or under your brand.
Is Antep Foods one of the lokum manufacturers in Türkiye?
Antep Foods is a manufacturer and exporter in Gaziantep. Production takes place in our own factory in Gaziantep, and certificates and data sheets are issued for that factory.
Is lokum the same as Turkish delight?
Yes. Lokum is the Turkish name. The same product is asked for as Turkish delight, loukoum, rahat and, in Brazil, manjar turco.
Can I mix lines in one load?
Yes. The unit of sale is one full container (20 ft or 40 ft) or one full truck, mixed across lines. Send us the list of lines you want and we will quote.
