With our strong foundations laid in Denizli Babadağ in 1953, we continue to prepare a sustainable future and give life to dreams.
MILESTONES
1953
Mehmet Zorlu laid the foundations of Zorlu Holding by establishing a company with just two weaving looms in his hometown, Babadağ, Denizli.
1960
After the business is Denizli, Mehmet Zorlu's sons Zeki and Ahmet Zorlu opened the first shop in Trabzon
Ahmet Zorlu moved to Istanbul.
Textile products manufactured by subcontractors in Denizli and Bursa were sold to Trabzon and Istanbul.
1973
Table cloth and duvet cover manufacturing started under TAC brand. Printed duvet covers and bed sheets of 220 cm size (length) were manufactured for the first time in Turkey.
1976
Korteks was establishedin Bursa as a small workshop.
1977
Zeki Zorlu moved to Bursa.
1982
Since Korteks grew rapidly, a textileand tulle factory was established in Bursa Organized Industrial Zone.
Korteks made its first exports to Iraq and Libya.
1988
A polyester yarn factory was established in Bursa Organized Industrial Zone in order to meet the high-quality yarn requirements of the textile factory.
1989
The acquisition of Zorlu Brode factory in Lüleburgaz was completed.
1990
Zorlu Holding A.S. was established.
1992
As the importance of design increased throughout the world, a R&D and pattern department was set upwithin Korteks.
1993
Zorlu Energy was establishedin order to meet power needs of the group companies.
1994
Electronics and white appliances manufacturer, Vestel was taken over and incorporated to Zorlu Group.
1997
Zorlu Holding stepped into a new line of business by acquisition of Denizbank.
Zorlu Linens was established as the largest home textile manufacturing plant in Europe and Middle East. Europe's largest integrated polyester yarn manufacturing factory was established. The annual capacity of the factory was 165,000 tons.
Zorlu Grand Hotel opened in Trabzon.
Construction of two power plants started in Lüleburgazand Bursa.
1998
Foundations of Vestel City were laid. Refrigerator factory was the first to be built.
Zorlu Foreign Trade was establishedin order to coordinate all foreign trade operations of Zorlu Textile Group.
Zorlu USA was establishedas a marketing company in New York, Zorlu MFG was establishedas a manufacturing and distribution company in Atlanta, and Vestel USA was establishedin the Silicon Valley. Internet TV production for USA started for the first time in the world
Operations started in the European curtain market by the acquisition of the 250-year-old French brand, Bel Air.
1999
Mehmet Zorlu Education Health Culture and Solidarity Foundation was established in order to support education, culture, arts, and sports and to pave the way for the young generation.
Linens marketing was established and the first store was opened on Bağdat Street under"Linens Home Beauty Centre" concept. Zorlu was the first group to initiatededicated store operations in the Turkish home textile industry.
Vestel ranked first in the industry for production and exports.
2000
Vestel became export champ in Turkey.
Vestel’s Hong Kongoffice was opened.
Zorlu Energy was offered to public.
2001
Vestel Italy and Zorlu UK were established.
Linens’s first international store was opened in Ukraine in 2001.
2002
Washing machine investments started.
Vestel’s Shanghai office was opened.
LCD TV production started.
A second brand was created under the name Regal, in order to offer innovative products tothe electronics and white appliances industry.
Zorlu Linens became the biggest in Europe and the third biggest in the world in cotton home textiles production.
2003
In the 50th foundation anniversary of the group, Vestel City, one of Europe’s largest production facilities, started operations with the establishment of the High End factory producing LCDs.
Vestel Defence was established to meet the technological needs of the Turkish Armed Forces.
Zorlu Children’s Theatre was established.
2004
TAÇ brand started to provide direct retail service at its own stores.
Jules Verne joined the group as a company providing services in every field of the tourism industry.
2005
Valeron started to be produced and exported as the high-end brand of Zorlu Linens.
The mini unmanned aerial vehicle "Karayel" made its first flight demonstration.
Zorlu Energy became 25 percent partner of Dorad Energy, which is in access of 800 MW of power generation capacity in Israel.
2006
The Zorlu Real Estate Group was established.
Zorlu Energy signed a contract to establish Pakistan's first wind farm and operate it for 20 years.
Denizbank was sold to Dexia with a sales ratio and value that went down in the Turkish banking industry history.
Korteks started technical and functional yarn production, for the automotive industryin particular.
2007
Meta Nickel Cobalt Mining started to operateas a partnership of Zorlu Groupand Meta Mining.
Zorlu Holding signed the United Nations Global Compact.
2009
In its 40th anniversary, TAÇ brand increased the number of its stores to 500 in Turkey and 100 in the international markets.
Korteks started nano technology and nano material operations.
2010
Vestel produced the 100 millionth television.
2011
Zorlu Energy issued the first sustainability report in the industry.
2012
Zorlu Factoring started to operate.
2013
Zorlu Center was opened as the biggest real estate project of Zorlu Group.
Zorlu Performing Arts Centre was opened within the Zorlu Real Estate Group in order to bring world-famous productions and local and foreign artists together with art lovers.
Vestel was the first electronics and white appliances manufacturer of the world to be introduced in the National Geographic Channel’s “Mega Factories” documentary series.
Zorlu Energy commissioned Kızıldere II as Turkey’s biggest geothermal power plant with 80 MW installed capacity.
2014
Venus was produced and launchedas Turkey’s first domestic production smart phone.
Meta Nickel Cobalt Mining started production trials.
2015
Cyclists who participated tothe 51st Presidency Tour of Turkey, which was organized with the sponsorship of Vestel, passed through Vestel City breaking grounds as the first bicycling tour that went through a factory.
Constructed by Zorlu Real Estate, Levent 199 was awarded by the “LEED Gold” certificate.
Zorlu Holding signed the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles in parallel with the support it gives tothe empowerment of women in society, business and economy.
2016
Zorlu Energy established Zorlu Solar in order to develop projects in the solar energy industry.
The social innovation platform “imece,” of which Zorlu Holding is a founding partner, was introduced.
Vestel was ranked first in Europe at the Industrial Excellence Awards.
2017
An investment of 70 million euros was made within Vestel City in order to increase the production capacity of the washing machine factory by 750 thousand units and to builda drying machine factory with a capacity of 750 thousand units.
Zorlu Energy became the exclusive distributor of First Solar panels in 26 different countries.
Zorlu Grubu took over the electricity distribution and sales operations of the Osmangazi region (Afyon, Bilecik, Eskişehir, Uşak, Kütahya) with more than 1,5 million subscribers.
Zorlu Grubu was chosen to be one of the 5major companies to manufacture Turkey’s first national automobile.
Turkey’s first nickel-cobalt facility was opened in Gördes, Manisa, as an outcome of a 600 million dollars investment.
2018
Vestel was the export leader in its industry for 20 consecutive years.
Kızıldere 3 was commissioned as the biggest geothermal power plant of Turkey and one of the leading geothermal power plants around the world.
Vestel was awarded bythe “Most Innovative Brand” prize by Plus X.
Zorlu Energy was the first company in the energy industry to recievethe Water Footprint Certificate.
In an adventure that started in Babadağ in 1953, Zorlu Group left 65 years behind as of 2018.
Electrip was established within Zorlu Energy as Turkey’s first vehicle sharing platform for electric vehicles only.
Zorlu Group introduced the volunteering movement “Kıvılcımlar”.
2019
ZES (Zorlu Energy Solutions), an electric vehicle charging station supplier, became Turkey’s biggest public charging station network, as a Zorlu Energy investment.
2020
Zorlu Group’s in-house entrepreneurship program “Parlak Bi’Fikir” completed its first round. Investments were made to two in-house initiatives, ConectoHuband AbilityPool.
Zorlu Group published its Gender Manifesto, An Equal Life Dictionary, and Domestic Violence Prevention Policy.
Zorlu Textile was awarded by the “Most Environment-Friendly Champion” prize at the Stars of Export event organized by Turkish Exporters Assembly.
Zorluteks and Hometeks factories completed the sustainable textile production certification processes at the highest level, as a result of which they were certified to be “sustainable textile producers”.
Vestel, started the delivery in 24 hours initiative, as a first in its industry.
Vestel opened the Vestel Express stores in order to combine the online purchasing experience with the physical retail business.
Zorlu Energy Solutions (ZES) extended its electric vehicle charging station network to 81 provinces through comprehensive investments.
Zorlu Energy became a member of the UN Global Compact.
Zorlu Energy opened its Kazakhstanbranch.
Within the scope of the “An Equal Life” initiative, Zorlu Energy was among the signatories of United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
Zorlu Group published its Gender Manifesto, An Equal Life Dictionary, and Domestic Violence Prevention Policy.
2021
Zorlu Holding announces its 2030 and 2050 objectives in environmental, social and corporate governance in the light of its “responsible investment holding” approach.
imece Summit, hosted by Zorlu Holding, is organized under the theme of “Future Impact”.
Zorlu Group finalizes the second cycle of its corporate entrepreneurship program, A Bright Idea (Parlak Bi’Fikir), and three initiatives are selected for investment.
Vestel announces its 2050 net zero emissions objective.
Zorlu PSM establishes Vestel PSM Radyo.
Zorlu Center is awarded Zero Waste Certificate with its Zero Waste Management System by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Affairs.
Levent 199 transitions to full renewable energy use.
Zorlu Enerji activates “Digital Subscription Service”.
Zorlu Energy Solutions (ZES) becomes operational in 81 cities in Turkey and 6 countries in Europe.
2022
A corporate transformation project is launched in Zorlu Group’s journey to become a sustainable holding committed to environmental, social and governance principles. The Zorlu Family Council is established and the Zorlu Holding Board of Directors is restructured with the participation of independent members. Zorlu Holding Board of Directors Committees start to operate with the new working principles under the leadership of independent members. A General Secretariat unit is established to ensure coordination among Zorlu Group’s corporate governance bodies.
Zorlu Holding Human Rights Policy is published.
As part of the “An Equal Life” (Eşit Bi’Hayat) approach, basic training is initiated to raise awareness and knowledge on gender equality among all Zorlu Group employees.
In the TIM Awards announced in 2022, Vestel becomes the export champion in its sector for the 24th time and ranked 5th among all sectors with sales of TRY 26 billion in foreign markets.
Vestel rises from 11th to 4th place as one of the top 5 most valuable brands in Turkey, as determined by the international financial institution Brand Finance for 2022.
Vestel signs an agreement with Eneco eMobility, one of Germany’s leading brands, for the supply of electric vehicle chargers. Under this agreement, Eneco eMobility procures electric vehicle chargers from Vestel to be installed in Belgium, Benelux Region and Germany.
Working to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues across the entire company, Vestel increases its S&P Global ESG score by 44% to 65 points in 2022. The CDP climate change score of Vestel Elektronik and Vestel Beyaz Eşya plants rose to B and A-, respectively.
Vestel Elektronik, Vestel Beyaz Eşya and Zorlu Enerji shares the current outputs of their activities in 2021, their plans for the future and the roadmap for their targets in their first Integrated Annual Report.
Zorlu Enerji becomes a pioneer in its sector by joining the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which it signed by committing to limit the increase in greenhouse gas emissions to 1.50C.
Zorlu Enerji scores 61 points in the ESG assessment conducted by Moody’s and reaches “Advanced” level. Ranked 4th with its ESG score among 57 energy companies evaluated globally, it takes its place among the leading companies in terms of sustainability in the energy sector.
The number of ZES charging stations reaches 185 in 81 provinces of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Montenegro.
Zorlu Center’s Eco Love Fest, which includes a Sustainable Market where eco-friendly products from brands focusing on sustainability and good living can be found, ecological talks, music performances and workshops, is awarded a silver award by the Solal Marketing Awards organized by the European Council of Shopping Places, one of the most important award programs in the sector.
With its PLASTICE Project, Korteks is accepted to the Horizon Europe Green Deal Program, through which the European Union conducts research, development and innovation projects. Within the scope of PLASTICE, Korteks’ first Horizon Europe Project, it is aimed to recycle complex textile and plastic wastes, which are very difficult to separate, and to contribute to the circular economy by manufacturing final products with low carbon footprint from recycled raw materials.
The Togg Gemlik Campus in Bursa, where mass production of Togg, Turkey’s domestic automobile brand, of which Zorlu Group is one of the partners, will take place, is opened.
