BigChefs

BigChefs is a Turkish restaurant chain founded in Ankara in 2007 by Gamze Cizreli. The brand describes its offer around world cuisine, breakfast and enjoyable dining occasions. Its official website features seasonal menus, dishes prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients, customer promotions and Academy BigChefs, a gastronomy education initiative operating under the BigChefs name. The supplied Turkish Wikipedia excerpt describes BigChefs as an Ankara-based chain with a presence in Turkey, the Middle East and Europe. It reports that the company reached 120 locations as of 2 January 2024, comprising 109 in Turkey and 11 abroad. The excerpt also records earlier milestones in its expansion, including its first international location in Dubai in 2014 and its first European location in Frankfurt in 2019. BigChefs’ corporate history includes a partnership with Saruhan Tan, a 40% sale to Taxim Capital in 2016, and a public offering on Borsa İstanbul in May 2023. The available evidence does not establish the company’s current ownership structure, present executives, or a stock ticker. The brand remains active, with its official website presenting current menus, campaigns and its culinary education initiative.

BigChefs was founded in Ankara in 2007 by Gamze Cizreli. The supplied Turkish Wikipedia excerpt says Cizreli established the business using a bank loan. Two years later, she partnered with Saruhan Tan and the business moved to the vicinity of Nispetiye Avenue in Istanbul. The chain subsequently opened locations in different parts of Turkey. The excerpt describes a large Diyarbakır branch as the company’s 23rd location; it later closed after public objections concerning the use of municipal land. The company began its international expansion in September 2014, when it opened its first overseas branch in Dubai. The excerpt says that further branches followed in the Middle East. In 2016, BigChefs sold 40% of the company to Taxim Capital, and the chain opened its 32nd branch in Adana. The supplied text also notes the closure that year of the company’s first Etiler branch. By 2019, the excerpt reported 51 locations in Turkey and 65 in total, with more than 3,000 employees. That year BigChefs opened its first European branch, in Frankfurt. The company later pursued a public offering, collecting demand from 3–5 May 2023; its shares began trading on Borsa İstanbul on 10 May 2023. The same excerpt reports that on 2 January 2024 the chain had 120 locations: 109 in Turkey and 11 abroad. The official website currently promotes seasonal menus, campaigns and Academy BigChefs, a gastronomy education initiative. The available sources do not establish current ownership details or a complete subsequent timeline.

• BigChefs founded in Ankara

• Partnership with Saruhan Tan and move to Istanbul

• First overseas branch opens in Dubai

• Taxim Capital acquires a 40% stake

• First European branch opens in Frankfurt

• Public offering demand collection

• Shares begin trading on Borsa İstanbul

• Reported network reaches 120 locations

A restaurant chain presenting world cuisine, breakfast and social dining occasions, with menus highlighting seasonal ingredients.

• Restaurant dining

  The official homepage presents BigChefs as a restaurant brand featuring world cuisine and breakfast.

• Academy BigChefs

  A gastronomy education initiative under the BigChefs name, described by the official site as offering instruction with specialist educators.

1. 1BigChefs: Dünya Mutfağı, Kahvaltı & Keyifli Anlarbigchefs.com.tr
2. 2BigChefswikidata.org
3. 3BigChefstr.wikipedia.org