“The sole source of natural honey is nature. It is not possible to tell whether honey is adulterated by looking at its smell, taste, or appearance.”
Why Analyzed Honey?
A brand's story
This is the story not only of Balparmak but also of the Turkish Honey Sector and of the two siblings who brought Balparmak, the pioneering, distinguished brand of the sector, to life. It is an exemplary story that began with a humble initiative in Istanbul, became known throughout Turkey over the years, and today, the world has begun to listen to and tell.
Özen Altıparmak, one of the two siblings who founded Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. and created the Balparmak brand, graduated from TED Ankara College in 1971 and from METU Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Administration in 1978.
He now had to give his future a direction, and he was particularly undecided about how to build his professional life.
On the one hand, his independent and entrepreneurial spirit urged him to start his own business; on the other hand, circumstances required him to get a job and start working as soon as possible.
During this decision-making process, he took the personnel exam for Öğretmenler Bankası, one of the important and large banks of those years, and won it with the highest score. He was offered a permanent position as an inspector, but with a five-year compulsory service condition...
Free spirit? Entrepreneurship? These were incompatible with this obligation; he rejected the offer.
With the goal of starting his own business, he settled in Istanbul, which he considered a suitable location, and while working on business projects, he also entered professional working life. He worked in various jobs.
His last job was in the marketing department of a spice production and sales company, and his success there, in a sense, became one of the most important factors that brought him and Altıparmak Pazarlama to where they are today.
The spice company management offered Özen Altıparmak to establish a marketing and distribution company and undertake the distribution of their products in Istanbul.
The opportunity he had been waiting for had come to him; he accepted. He founded Altıparmak Marketing Collective Company with his father Sabri Altıparmak and his brother Özgür Altıparmak.
Today, Özgür Altıparmak, who is the vice chairman of the board of directors of Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. and continues to manage production, analysis, product blends, and filling facility, was born in Ankara in 1958.
Özgür Altıparmak, who graduated from Gazi University School of Press and Publication in 1982, entered business life as a founding partner with his brother Özen Altıparmak, with whom he shared the same entrepreneurial spirit and vision, while still a university student.
In a short time, the company undertook and successfully carried out the marketing, sales, and distribution of many food products, in line with the common visions and goals of the two brothers.
Among these products was one from a close friend of the father, Sabri Altıparmak, from his Village Institute years: honey, humanity's ancient and natural friend and food for thousands of years.
Like any product, the sale and marketing of honey required a close understanding of it. And getting to know honey – its characteristics, its place in human life, its arduous production, its struggling producers – opened up a whole new horizon for the Altıparmak brothers. Their future was in honey, in the honey industry.
In those years, beekeeping was newly developing in Turkey. There was no well-known, preferred, or widely distributed honey brand in Turkey, so the honey sector was a field with broad horizons and great potential, and there was much that could be done. The foresight and vision to make this observation, however, belonged to the Altıparmak brothers...
Özen Altıparmak and Özgür Altıparmak saw that the development of beekeeping, one of Turkey's most valuable industries, would be possible by ensuring that honey, one of Turkey's most valuable riches, reached its deserved value. With this foresight, they decided to merge the future of beekeeping, the honey sector, and their company, Altıparmak, into one.
They would collect the most exquisite honeys from the best regions of Turkey, package them in the safest, most hygienic way, and offer them to consumers. Their long-term goal was to create a global brand from Turkey's finest honeys.
They named it: Balparmak.
What followed was simply managing the process, with scientific methods and correct solutions, primarily with a consumer-centric approach. Taking into account consumer needs and demands, accurately analyzing market conditions, with determination and patience, with distinguished staff, without compromising on quality and management principles...
Balparmak, launched under the umbrella of Altıparmak, became Turkey's best-selling honey brand in 1989, and Altıparmak Gıda has maintained its market leadership, which it achieved in 1991, to this day.
Today, the leading institution of the Turkish honey sector, continuing its journey under the name Altıparmak Gıda San. ve Tic. A.Ş., is among Europe's largest honey packagers with its facilities built on a 30,000m2 land, a processing capacity of 32,000 tons/year, and over 350 employees.
Balparmak, differentiated by the quality standard it offers to its consumers, also takes on the leadership of the sector in this regard. The company, which operates according to international standards in food safety, also holds certifications such as the FSSC 22000 food safety system and the global food standard BRC (British Retail Consortium).
APILAB (Honey and Other Bee Products Research and Quality Control Laboratory), located within the Balparmak R&D Center, is Turkey's only and one of Europe's four most comprehensive equivalent specialized honey laboratories. Bee products collected from all regions of Turkey undergo naturalness tests in 4 separate stages and at least 300 parameters here.
Balparmak is moving forward with firm and determined steps on its way to becoming a global brand.
Our Vision
To be the world's most recognized and trusted natural bee products brand.
Our Mission
To create happy stakeholders and add value to our industry by offering consumers natural and healthy bee products selected through scientific studies.
Our Values
- Passionate
- Idealistic
- Respectful of Labor
- Sincere
- Transparent
- Participatory
Organizations we are members of
Founding member of BAL-DER (Healthy Life with Bee Products Platform Association). Additionally, Özen Altıparmak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., also serves as the chairman of the association's board of directors.
Food Safety Association (GGD)
International Honey Exporters Organization (IHEO)
International Honey Commission (IHC)
Calibration and Test Laboratories Association (Turklab)
Our Quality Policy
To offer consumers superior quality honey and other bee products with various tastes and aromas produced in different regions of Turkey, after their compliance with quality and hygiene standards has been determined by the most precise methods, and then packaged under hygienic conditions. To become one of the world's most renowned brands with our reliability. To become a leader in domestic and international markets by increasing our sales capacity with our superior technology and product quality. To continuously review and improve our established quality management system and ensure it is understood by our employees. To take necessary measures to ensure the health, environmental order, and safety of our personnel. To evaluate our suppliers and beekeepers and assist in their development. As Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, we commit to implementing our quality policy to the highest standards.
TRACK YOUR HONEY
The authenticity of your honey is guaranteed by at least 100 naturalness tests! By scanning the QR code on the product label or entering the ID number on the label, you can view which plants your honey was obtained from, and access the analysis report generated based on the analyses performed at the Balparmak Honey and Other Bee Products Research and Quality Control Laboratory, accredited by TÜRKAK, which shows that the honey belonging to the specified lot number complies with the Turkish Food Codex. qr.balparmak.com.tr
The only source of natural honey is nature. It is not possible to tell whether honey is adulterated by looking at its smell, consistency, taste, or appearance. Honey needs to be analyzed to determine if it is natural.
Performing honey analyses in a specialized laboratory is of great importance for the reliability of the results.
Within the scope of the analysis, the authenticity of the honey should be examined first. At this stage, IRMS, HMF, proline, diastase, moisture, conductivity values, and sugar structure are evaluated.
In addition to chemical analysis, honey should also be examined sensorially. In the next stage, the consistency of chemical analysis results with sensory analysis results should be compared.
After the naturalness of the honey is understood, residue analyses should be performed. In this context, in addition to naphthalene analysis, sulfamethazine, tetracycline, and streptomycin residues should be investigated.
After the residue analysis, pollen analysis should be performed to determine which flowers the bee took nectar from. In this way, the origin of the honey can be determined.
In the final stage, the analysis results need to be evaluated and interpreted by a team of experts and experienced in honey.
1980
Year Established
In 1980, Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. was established with the aim of processing, packaging, and marketing bee products.
1984
First Balparmak Logo and Label
Balparmak was launched in 1984 with its first logo and label.
1986
First Honey Analysis Laboratory Established
The foundations of the Honey and Other Bee Products Research and Quality Control Laboratory, also known today as APILAB and Turkey's first and Europe's fourth most comprehensive specialized bee products laboratory, were laid in 1986.
1989
Balparmak is Turkey's Best-Selling Honey Brand
In 1989, Balparmak became Turkey's best-selling honey brand.
1993
The Birth of a Tradition
Balparmak Calendar, which brought the energy of flowers to every day of the year, was first printed and distributed in 1993. For current calendars click here.
1994
Opening of Çekmeköy Facilities
In 1994, the Çekmeköy Facilities were opened.
1995
First Export
The first step towards becoming a global brand was taken in 1995. This year, the first export took place.
2004
First Step in Innovative Products
Balparmak, which has made a name for itself with its creative and rational innovations, launched Balparmak Snap Lid, a first in Turkey, in 2004.
2008
Transition to the Classic Jar Design
The jar design, which became a classic in the eyes of consumers and is still in use today, was adopted in 2008.
2010
Balparmak Regional Series Meets Consumers
Balparmak Regional Series, launched in 2010, brings together the most ideal flavors of Turkey.
2011
Groundbreaking for Our New Facility Took Place
In 2011, the foundations were laid for our new 20,000 m2 facility, which was decided upon to meet the increasing needs in processes such as supply, packaging, research and development, and analysis, in parallel with the growth of our brand.
2012
Innovative Product Line Apitera on Shelves
The Apitera Series, which offers Life Therapy from bees and consists of a mixture of royal jelly, honey, pollen, and propolis, was launched in 2012.
2013
Balparmak Katla Balla: First and Only in Turkey
Balparmak Katla Balla, which has won many national and international awards, has added a new innovative product to its portfolio.
2014
Monoflora Series is Out
Monoflora Series Citrus and Chestnut Honey, produced by bees predominantly from the nectar of a single plant species, has been launched.
2015
The Year of Innovations
Many innovations took place in the Balparmak world in 2015.
- Our facility, designed by architect Nevzat Sayın, whose foundations were laid in 2011, was completed, and we moved to the new facility.
- ApiteraZen, a combination of apitherapy and phytotherapy, was launched.
- 'Priospot technology' was used for the first time in the food industry by Balparmak and was incorporated into product packaging.
2016
APILAB was established, BallıMix was launched
- Turkey’s first, Europe’s fourth R&D and Quality Center for honey and bee products, APILAB, was established.
- BallıMix, a new flavor that combines honey and hazelnuts, was launched.
2017
Balparmak R&D Center Hosted 600 Scientists
The 45th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress, held for the first time in Turkey, took place with the main sponsorship of Balparmak and the participation of over 12,000 people from 120 countries. Within the scope of the congress, industry professionals and scientists from many countries around the world met in Istanbul.
2018
New Products Added to the Innovative Product Series Apitera
ApiteraUp and ApiteraMind have been added to the Apitera Series, which is prepared by combining honey with other natural and healthy bee products and plants and then presented to consumers, following ApiteraZen. The series, developed by the R&D Center, has been launched for those who value healthy living.
2019
Lavender, Thyme, and Linden Honey Added to the Monofloral Series
As of 2019, lavender, thyme, and linden honeys have joined the monofloral family, which consists of chestnut honey from the Black Sea region and citrus honeys from the Mediterranean.
2019
Alcohol-free, water-based pure Propolis from Balparmak is here!
Pure water-based Propolis, free of all alcohols, including glycol, is now available on pharmacy shelves in single-use, hygienic, and practical packaging.
2019
Cocoa BallıMix has joined the BallıMix series.
The new HoneyMix series product, Cocoa HoneyMix, has been launched.
2020
Balparmak's Regional Honeys, which joined the family in 2010, have been renewed and renamed "Anatolian Delights."
Kayseri, Muş, Yüksekova, Bingöl, Şemdinli honeys, in new packaging under the name "Anatolian Delicacies"...
2020
Nature's Power is with You with Apitera Mix and Apitera Kids
Apitera Mix and Apitera Kids, launched in 2012, are now available in new packaging with enriched content.
2020
Apitera Propolis is now available on market shelves.
Sweetened with honey, Apitera Propolis is now much easier to consume with its new taste.
2020
40 years beneficial to the world: Balparmak
Our story, which began in 1980, is now 40 years old.
