Sopho  

The Sopho brand began its operations under Kutlay Tourism, Food Industry, and Trade Inc. in August 2017.

Product Portfolio:

• Cooking sauces
• Dipping sauces
• Burger & sandwich sauces
• Glazes
• Coffee sauces
• Cheese sauces
• Pesto sauces
• Asian, Mexican, American, Italian, and French cuisine sauces
• Specialty-purpose sauces

In addition to the products in our portfolio, we can develop new products through R&D activities based on partner demands.

All products in our portfolio are competitive with existing market flavors and are preferred by consumers.

Variety for Special Purposes: Products in our portfolio are available in different forms and features tailored for special-purpose uses (e.g., consistency, dominant flavors, etc.).

Sopho has the capability to produce a wide variety of packaging formats thanks to its advanced technology.

Following migration tests, all packaging types that allow for pasteurization and sterilization processes can be pasteurized and sterilized at our production facility.

Packaging options include:

• Glass jars and bottles (Filling Diameter ≥28mm)
• PE buckets (Filling Diameter ≥28mm)
• Tin cans (Filling Diameter ≥28mm)
• PE, PP, and PET bottles and jars (Filling Diameter ≥28mm)
• Bag-in-Box (Filling Diameter ≥32mm)

R&D Activities

As of December 2018, Sopho successfully completed comprehensive R&D activities related to:

• Baby food jars
• Canned vegetables and fruits
• Canned soups
• Beef, chicken, and fish bone broths
• Sweet sauces
• Bakery fillings
• Coffee sauces
• Cooking and dipping sauces
• High-nutritional-value foods
• Dietary supplements
• Geriatric foods and medical nutrition products

R&D activities were conducted by expert teams at the R&D center located in Adnan Menderes University Technopark and the production facility in Aydın.

Notable R&D Outcomes:

1. Baby Food Jars: The launch of various baby food jars was presented during the traditional ADÜ Food Engineering Congress hosted by the Adnan Menderes University Food Engineering Department, receiving positive feedback and acclaim.
2. Sterilized Foods for Transplant Patients: Sopho developed sterilized foods suitable for consumption by organ transplant patients during quarantine periods. These products are currently consumed by organ and bone marrow transplant patients at Adnan Menderes University.
3. Operational Special-Purpose Foods: Sopho is among the few companies worldwide capable of producing operational foods for military use. These products are preservative-free, additive-free, concentrated, flavorful, allergen-free, and long-lasting. In line with the nutritional requirements (57% carbohydrates, 15% protein, 28% fat) approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Sopho developed 7 distinct foods offering 3990 kcal per day through 3 main meals and 2 snacks, weighing only 1.4 kg for easy portability.

Starting in January 2019, Sopho began transforming its R&D achievements into commercial ventures. While continuing production in various fields, the company has specialized in sauce manufacturing.

Between 2019-2020, Sopho's marketing efforts, primarily focused on the foodservice sector, led to the establishment of 45 sales points across Turkey, with a concentration in the Aegean region.

In the last quarter of 2019, due to cost pressures from sales points, Sopho increased capacity and invested in automation. As a result, the brand separated from Kutlay Tourism, Food Industry, and Trade Inc. and became an independent company.

Franchise & Advanced R&D

As of January 2020, Sopho began catering to franchise restaurant chains by offering:

• Custom recipe development
• Specific product formulations
• Good manufacturing practices
• Sustainable production practices
• Standardization initiatives

These activities are supported by a comprehensive R&D center established within the production facility.

In 2020, Sopho minimized the financial impact of COVID-19 by utilizing its capabilities in dietary supplement and canned vegetable production. To mitigate future risks, the company updated its goals for 2021.