Since 1987
From a neighbourhood greengrocer to the city’s largest gross market
GÜL GROSS MARKET opened in 1987 at the same address as a small greengrocer. Today our single 12,000 m² store serves families at retail and restaurants, cafés, grocers and offices at wholesale (cash & carry). We have no branches; all our effort is under this one roof.
Our mission
To offer fresh, trustworthy products at honest prices to families and businesses alike, under one roof.
Our vision
To be our region’s most trusted gross market, the first choice of homes and businesses alike.
GÜL in numbers
As of 2026
- Sales floor
- 12.000 m²
- Products
- 25.000+
- Parking spaces
- 600
- Businesses with GÜL Card
- 2.800+
- Employees
- 340+
Our values
Freshness
The shortest way from field to shelf.
Honesty
What the label says is what you pay.
Local first
We grow with local producers.
Efficiency
Savings are passed on to customers.
Our history
Scroll sideways to move through the years
1987
A 40 m² greengrocer
Hüseyin Gülen opened a 40 m² greengrocer on the corner where our store stands today. Fresh produce bought every morning and honest scales soon won the neighbourhood’s trust. The shop’s first sign is on display at our store entrance today.
1992
Butcher and deli counters
Adding the neighbouring shops grew the store to 600 m², with new butcher, deli and dry goods counters. Customers could now do all their shopping in one place.
2005
Wholesale section and GÜL Card
A cash & carry section opened at the back of the store, selling to restaurants, cafés and grocers at case prices. GÜL Card, offering businesses invoiced shopping, reached 600 businesses in its first year.
2014
Our new 12,000 m² building
Our new building on the same plot raised the sales floor to 12,000 m² and parking to 400 cars. Retail and wholesale aisles began serving under one roof for the first time, with separate checkout lines.
2017
Stone oven and cold store
Our in-store stone oven, baking bread three times a day, and a 1,500 m² cold store opened. Fresh produce now reaches the shelf within 24 hours of harvest.
2018
GÜL private labels
The private label era began with the GÜL, Gül Bahçe, Gül Ev and Gülbebe brands. Products developed with local producers reached our shelves at affordable prices after quality checks.
2022
Solar roof and zero waste
Solar panels with a capacity of 1.2 MW were installed on our store roof. Through the Zero Waste Programme, unsold food began to be shared with the local food bank.
2026
A renewed store and parking for 600 cars
Our store was renewed from top to bottom; parking grew to 600 cars and GÜL Card businesses reached 2,800. Our goal is not to open branches but to serve better every day under one roof.
Board of directors
Hüseyin Gülen
Founder, Chairman of the Board
Biography
Founder of GÜL GROSS MARKET. In 1987 he opened a 40 m² greengrocer at the very address where our store stands today, and over more than thirty years grew that same address into one of the city’s largest gross markets. Instead of opening branches, he chose to make one store as good as it can be. His commitment to fresh produce and local producers is the foundation of our values. He still visits the wholesale produce market himself several mornings a week.
Selin Gülen Aksoy
Vice Chair of the Board
Biography
After studying business and finance she worked at an audit firm. She joined the family business in 2006 and played a key role in setting up the wholesale (cash & carry) section of our store and launching the GÜL Card programme. On the board she is now responsible for finance, sustainability and people policies.
Ahmet Gülen
Board Member
Biography
The founder’s brother and the store’s first master butcher. He ran the butcher’s counter, opened in 1992, for thirty years and still has a say in selecting meat suppliers and quality checks. He founded the master-apprentice training programme in our store.
Murat Karaçam
Independent Board Member
Biography
He has more than twenty-five years of experience in banking and corporate finance. Since 2019 he has served as an independent board member, contributing to the company’s financial discipline and the planning of investments in the store.
Management team
Emre Doğanay
General Manager
Biography
He began his career as an FMCG sales representative, joined GÜL in 2015 and has been General Manager since 2021. He led the renovation of our 12,000 m² building, the expansion of the bakery and butcher’s counters and the enlargement of the car park. He spends most of his day on the shop floor rather than in the office.
Burak Tekinalp
Store Manager
Biography
He joined GÜL in 2003 as a shelf assistant and, after leading the tills and a department, became Store Manager. He is responsible for the daily running of the store, from shift planning and shelf layout to customer satisfaction and the development of our 340-strong team. He is a living example of our promotion-from-within culture.
Elif Sarıgül
Purchasing & Quality Manager
Biography
A food engineer, she joined GÜL in 2016 and is responsible for purchasing, private labels and quality assurance. She is the architect of our model of working directly with more than 180 local producers and visits at least one producer with her team every month.
Can Özbilgin
Wholesale & GÜL Card Manager
Biography
He leads the wholesale team responsible for our restaurant, hotel, café and grocer customers. Case pricing, quotes and delivery planning for more than 2,800 GÜL Card businesses go through his team. Before that he spent ten years in HoReCa supply.
Zeynep Arıkan
Finance Manager
Biography
After studying economics she worked in audit and joined GÜL in 2018. She is responsible for accounting, budgeting, supplier payments and invoiced sales to GÜL Card businesses.