Parkim Group Combines Türkiye's Domestic Production Capacity with Advanced Technology

Report: Murat Soygür

Founded in 1979, Parkim Group combines traditional manufacturing culture with next-generation innovation thinking, pursuing a strong growth strategy in both local and global markets. In the report we conducted, Parkim Group Business Unit Manager Ersin Özten shared detailed information with our readers about the products and services they offer.

Could you briefly tell us about yourself and your professional background?
I was born in Istanbul in 1973. After completing my secondary and high school education at Özel Darüşşafaka Lisesi, I graduated from the Chemical Engineering department at ITÜ.

Because I have good interpersonal relations, after graduation I aimed to work in the sales field. I believed that before selling something, one needs to understand its fundamentals, so I gained 2.5 years of experience in the R&D and production departments.

After the 2001 crisis, I started working in raw material distribution for the paints and inks sectors by taking advantage of opportunities that arose. Over my total 15 years of experience, I developed not only customer relationships throughout Turkey, but also maintained strong relationships with overseas suppliers. These connections gave me the opportunity to develop new product groups and reach the right manufacturers.

As the paints market globalized and the presence of large players increased, the distribution business faced shrinking markets and a declining market share for small and medium-sized customers. What needed to be done was to combine our strengths with Parkim, which operates in multiple sectors including essences, detergents, cosmetics, textiles, and food departments, in 2017.

With the synergy this created, we have been serving the paints and construction chemicals markets for 8 years. This globalization in Turkey also pushes us toward exports, so our primary goal for the upcoming period is to focus on overseas customers.

Can you provide information about Parkim Group's establishment process and organizational structure?
Parkim Group is an established family company founded in 1979, which has gained a strong position in Turkey's chemical industry, particularly in the volatile oils and aroma industries. Today, the group operates as an integrated structure with the divisions of Parkim Fragrance, Parkim Flavors and Food Ingredients, Parkim Packaging, Parkim Chemicals, and Parkim Oils.

This organizational structure allows us to create a fully integrated production ecosystem that relies on our own resources at every stage from R&D to production, from supply to export. Thanks to the visionary approach of our Board of Directors, we combine our traditional manufacturing culture with next-generation innovations, pursuing a strong growth strategy in both local and global markets. By working with companies that share the same principles and provide sales distribution channels, particularly in paints and construction chemicals, we are expanding our network.

What trends are you following in the field of technology and innovation?
The chemical industry now requires much more than classical formulations. At Parkim Chemicals, we closely monitor this transformation. Functional raw materials, environmentally friendly solvent systems, smart polymers and biotechnology-based solutions—in short, wherever there is innovation, we examine it as a team and add it to our agenda.

In addition, we closely follow overseas markets for our supply chain and support this through direct participation in trade fairs, particularly visits to the Asian market. Parkim Group's overall innovation approach is based on creating infrastructure that will respond not only to today's needs but also to tomorrow's industrial expectations; we apply the same strategies in all our divisions.

What is your company's mission and vision? What strategy are you following to achieve these goals?
As Parkim Group, our mission is to position ourselves as a reliable Turkish brand in international markets by combining Turkey's domestic production power with advanced technology. Our vision is to become a regional innovation hub in the chemistry, fragrance, aroma and cosmetics industries, and our developing paints and construction chemicals sector.

In line with this, our strategy is based on increasing our R&D investments, strengthening international partnerships, and creating high added value in domestic production.

Under the leadership of our Board Chairman İpek Müstecaplıoğlu, Parkim Group is consistently implementing a long-term plan for institutionalization and globalization in all areas, from human resources to technological transformation.

Which countries and regions hold priority status for you in the export sector?
As Parkim Chemicals, we are actively exporting to a wide geography, primarily the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. On one hand, we continue our growth in GCC countries (particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait); on the other hand, we are developing new business partnerships aimed at introducing our domestic production capacity to European and Eastern European markets. We have our own regional office in Dubai, UAE.

This broad geographic structure supports our goal of transforming our brand from a regional player to a global manufacturer through both our chemical solutions and Parkim Group's comprehensive production capabilities. Although we are not in the forefront as direct exporters in the paints and construction sector, we are developing our connections through strategic business partnerships and particularly by leveraging our leading position in essences and aromas.
 
Sustainable production in the chemical industry is becoming increasingly important with each passing day. Could you tell us about the work Parkim Group has carried out in this area?
Absolutely. Sustainability is for us not only an environmental responsibility but also an economic and industrial one. As Parkim Chemicals, we have integrated this understanding throughout our production chain. Additionally, with our recent domestic chemical production investments that we have put into operation, we aim to reduce import dependency and increase the sustainable capacity of Turkey's chemical industry.

Although it is still early to share the details, this new investment will be one of the most concrete examples of Parkim Group's "domestic production, global quality" vision.