ANKARA — Avni Ongurlar, chairman of Hafız Mustafa 1864, has been honoured with the “Success Story” award at the World Ahi Awards Ceremony, organised by the World Tradesmen and Craftsmen Association and the Ahi Institute.

The ceremony, held at Musiki Muallim Mektebi as part of the “We Are the Ahi of Anatolia, We Are the Family of Turkey” project supported by the Turkish Interior Ministry’s Directorate General for Relations with Civil Society, brought together numerous representatives from civil society organisations and political figures.

Ongurlar received his award from Eyüp Aksoy, deputy director general for tradesmen, craftsmen and cooperatives at the Ministry of Trade.

Speaking at the event, Ongurlar expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying: “Thank you for deeming me worthy of this Ahi award. I dedicate this award to my hardworking colleagues and the Ongurlar family.”

Global expansion and employment

Hafız Mustafa 1864, a historic Turkish confectionery brand founded in 1864 in Istanbul’s Bahçekapı district, has expanded internationally, with operations in Türkiye, London and Dubai, employing around 1,400 people.

The brand has gained prominence with its branch in Knightsbridge, one of London’s most prestigious districts, and also operates a production facility in the UK capital, supplying fresh products to customers while maintaining high quality standards.

Producing approximately 1,500 tonnes of sweets annually, the company offers a wide range of traditional Turkish delicacies, including Turkish delight, baklava, kadayıf, cakes and milk-based desserts. It serves around 60 million customers each year, about 60% of whom are tourists, contributing significantly to Türkiye’s tourism sector.