Conversations with Turkey's Career Pioneers - Gamze Cizreli

This week’s guest of the Career Pioneers Talk was the creator of the brand “Big Chefs Cafe-Brasserie”, Ms. Gamze Cizreli. Ms. Cizreli started her talk by saying that her interest in food started with the long tables set during her childhood. After graduating from METU, Business Administration, she started working at a Defense Industry Company with what was a very good salary at the time. However, at the end of 2 years, in 1993, she noticed that she did not want to do this job anymore. Without quitting her regular job, she started working at a restaurant as a part time hostess for 9 months to see if she would like working in the ‘café industry’. She stated that she learned the business on the job and with her partner opened “Cafemiz” with 11 tables and 7 personnel. She also said that as a result of requests they received for packaged versions of the products on their menu, such as apple pies and cheesecakes which were not sold in regular pastry shops, they became aware of a need for change in this line of business and created the brand “Kuki”.

In addition to her entrepreneurship, Ms. Cizreli also talked about how they became the Ankara franchise of “Quick China” and DKNY. After earning a good amount of money from these ventures, in 2005, she split from her business partner and started over, taking nothing but the cookbooks. She indicated that hitting bottom created an opportunity for her to make a great comeback. Having a reputation for being good at what she does, and with the promise of her previous chefs to work with her, without having any assurance, she created “Big Chefs”. After meeting with a few banks and being rejected, she started her brand with the credit she was able to get from a bank that trusted her and her vision.

She indicated that between the years 2005 – 2009 the brand expanded in Ankara, and later with partnership offers, they started looking for a location in Istanbul. With the opening of their café in Etiler, they reached a turning point. Today with 1500 employees, and 24 branches, including ones abroad, they have become an international brand. Ms. Cizreli also mentioned that in the future they plan to expand even more by selling their shares to foreign partners.

Gamze Cizreli, who received an award for being a role model at “Women Entrepreneurs of the Year”, suggested that students take a look at Hamdi Ulukaya, the creator of the brand “Chobani”. She also talked about the new brand they have created. Following her talk, Ms. Cizreli was a guest on Radio TEDU.