Celebrating the launch, Murat Ulker, chairman of Yildiz Holding, says, “Establishing pladis is the first step in realizing the long-term strategy of Yildiz Holding. We are bringing together some of the world’s best loved brands and combining their 350 years of experience to form a new family company. We will be a global leader in biscuits and confectionery, and bring ‘bites of happiness’ to every corner of the world.”

Yildiz Holding is CEEMEA's largest food company, and pladis will add to its portfolio.

With 36 factories in 13 countries, the new company will employ 26,000 people. It will be led by Cem Karakas, ceo, and Ali Ulker, vice chairman. The senior leadership team will focus on innovation and quality, while the company will operate on a regional basis, with each region responsible for the manufacturing and commercial activities of the full pladis brand portfolio.

 “We have significant growth ambitions for pladis with the aim to outperform the category standard year-on-year. This is supported by our capital position and the strength of our manufacturing as one of only two companies in the world that produce such a broad range of biscuits and confectionery," says Karakas. "As one global family, we can be more agile, allowing us to innovate around our products and develop more brand synergies - which are already benefiting our business.”

The company is named after the Pleiades constellation, a group of seven stars visible from anywhere on earth. It will aim to rally a global workforce around that idea that "we promise happiness to the world with every bite."

 “It is an important part of our heritage and our future as we begin our new journey together as pladis," says Mohamed Elsarky, ceo pladis Americas. "I am excited by the opportunity to keep growing as part of this new family with our customers and colleagues in the Americas, and people who love our products everywhere.”