He was born in Laros island of Greece in 1889. His father is Adem Ağa from the notables of Laros. He, together with his family, arrived in Gemlik after the exchange laws in the aftermath of the First World War. Although he and his brothers founded a company in Gemlik titled “Minarezedeler” focusing on the production of olive and pickle varieties, this company became solely under the responsibility of Rifat Minare after his brothers left for other works and Rifat Minare replaced the name of the company as “Rifat Minare Canned Food Factory”.
Mr. Minare married to Hikmet Tepedelen in 1930, a marriage which would last for 42 years. Rifat Minare has 8 children with Mrs. Hikmet, who has always been the supporter of him. An innovative and entrepreneurial person Rifat Minare brought some seeds of rare fruits and vegetables which were not available in the country with his own efforts and took the initiative to produce them in the country’s farms to contribute to the agricultural works of the country. Based on his own experiences, he produced “the first peeled canned artichokes” in 1946.
Being very sensitive to the freshness, quality and cleanness of the foods, Rifat Minare products have gained a remarkable fame not only in the domestic market but also in the direct and indirect exports made to other countries. It has become the first food trademark of Turkey which had exported to the world. During these years, the appreciation and use of the Rifat Minare products by the USA has become an honor for the Turkish economy. When the capacity reached its maximum, a higher capacity, more modern facility was constructed in the Rifat Minare Farm which has allowed the activities reach today. He lost one of his daughters in 958 after a traffic accident. To minimize the adverse effects of this case, he has used a binocular for seeing distance and a loupe for seeing close materials; therefore he has always kept such tools with him.
He has been in charge of the Chamber of Commerce, Parent Teacher Association, School Charity Fund as long as his health allows and was very pleased to do so. He was training those with a desire to learn the job in a very pleasing way. In this regard, olive and pickle production has developed a lot in our country and reached a level contributing to the country’s economy by means of meeting the domestic and foreign demands. Deceased in 22.01.1972 due to a disease, Rifat Minare left his company to his sons Adem Nevzat Minare and Ayhan Nurettin Minare with his testament. The company continued its activities for a while under the name of Rifat Minare Oğulları, Adem and Ayhan Minare Collective Company. Currently, Rifat Minare Canned Food Factory is operated by Adem Minare and his two sons(Hakan İlhan and Hikmet Rifat Minare).
History
In 1927, Rifat Minare and his brothers founded a company in Gemlik titled “Minarezedeler” focusing on the production of olive and pickle varieties, this company became solely under the responsibility of Rifat Minare after his brothers left for other works and Rifat Minare replaced the name of the company as Rifat Minare Canned Food Factory. The factory was constructed in the Balıkpazarı Quarter of Gemlik.
Owner of the one of the first canned food factories of the country in 1930s, Rifat Minare brought some seeds of rare fruits and vegetables which were not available in the country with his own efforts. Their plantation was firstly carried out in the Rifat Minare Farm and then their seeds were collected. Then, these seeds were distributed to the villagers around Gemlik with some advance payments to increase the production capacity. These efforts contributed to the agriculture and economy of the country.
In 1946, the first time in the world “peeled globe artichoke” was produced and marketed. This product was very appreciated in the global market.
Rifat Minare Canned Food has become the first food trademark of Turkey which had exported to the world in 1947. During these years, the appreciation and use of the Rifat Minare products by the USA has become an honor for the Turkish economy and put a light before the domestic exporters. When the capacity reached its maximum, a higher capacity, more modern facility was constructed in the Rifat Minare Farm in 1960 which has allowed the activities reach today.
Deceased in 22.01.1972 due to a disease, Rifat Minare left his company to his sons Adem Nevzat Minare and Ayhan Nurettin Minare with his testament and the company continued its activities for a while under the name of Rifat Minare Oğulları, Adem and Ayhan Minare Collective Company.
Then, Rifat Minare Canned Food Factory started to be operated by Adem Minare and his two sons (Hakan İlhan and Hikmet Rifat Minare)
In 2005, Rifat Minare Canned Food Factory started to be modernized with the contracting of Dr. Kemal Mataracı and still continues to be improved and developed.
Rifat Minare Canned Food Factory, as the oldest living canned food factory of Turkey, presents its century old products to the world in better way following the restoration and modernization works.