SARS Causes Surge in Canned Food Orders

Responding to journalists’ questions after Tat’s general council meeting, Kesrelioglu said that customers could not go to China to buy tomatoes due to SARS. "Right now, European and other customers have become interested in Turkey. There is a significant increase in orders. The last 10 days in particular have witnessed a remarkable increase. This will positively affect our imports." Noting that a merger with Koc Holding would take place in May, Kesrelioglu stated that they expected growth of more than 10 per cent and a respectable increase in profit due to the merger. Kesrelioglu said a search for markets other than those in Europe was under way and added: "We are considering the Middle Eastern market. This market is important, it is developing."