Anadolu Group co-founder Kamil Yazıcı passes away at 96

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Kamil Yazıcı, one of the founding fathers of Turkish industry and the co-founder of Anadolu Group, has passed away. Yazıcı, who served as the Honorary President of the conglomerate, started his business journey in a small wholesaler shop in Tahtakale and helped build one of Turkey's largest industrial powerhouses.

Anadolu Group, which operates in 8 sectors ranging from automotive to beverages with nearly 100 production facilities and over 100,000 employees, announced the loss of its visionary leader on Monday.

From a Tahtakale shop to an industrial giant

Born on July 1, 1929, in Aksaray, Kamil Yazıcı's business life began in his father's wholesale grocery store. After completing his military service in Istanbul, he decided to stay in the city, a decision that would change the course of Turkish industrial history.

It was during his military service that he met İzzet Özilhan, who would become his lifelong business partner. Özilhan, who passed away in 2014, owned a small grocery shop in Tepebaşı at the time. The two forged a partnership in Tahtakale, trading goods sourced from the Spice Bazaar to Anatolia.

"The greatest gain of my two years of military service in Istanbul was getting to know my valuable partner and comrade, İzzet Özilhan," Yazıcı once wrote in his book, Common Mind: The Story of Determination Extending from a Hardware Store in Tahtakale to Anadolu Holding.

Building a legacy

The duo transitioned from trade to imports and eventually to manufacturing. Their first major industrial venture involved the assembly of Skoda pickups and Jawa motorcycles from Czechoslovakia. This move laid the foundation for the group's automotive arm.

Following their success in the automotive sector, Yazıcı and Özilhan expanded into beverages and stationery. They launched Efes Pilsen in 1969, established Adel—Turkey’s leading stationery brand—and initiated Isuzu truck production. A landmark partnership with Coca-Cola transformed the group into one of the world's most significant bottlers.

By the late 1960s, their various enterprises were consolidated under the umbrella of "Anadolu Group." In recognition of their contributions to the country's economy, both partners were awarded the State Medal of Distinguished Service by the President of Turkey in 1997.

Funeral details

In a statement released by Anadolu Group, the company expressed deep sorrow: "Our loss is great, our pain is infinite."

The funeral for Kamil Yazıcı will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Following the noon prayer at Mimar Sinan Mosque in Ataşehir, Istanbul, he will be laid to rest in the family cemetery in Maltepe.

Yazıcı had handed over the chairmanship of Anadolu Group to his partner's son, Tuncay Özilhan, in 2007. Last year, the chairmanship returned to the Yazıcı family, with Kamil Süleyman Yazıcı taking the helm.

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