Category: People

Entrepreneurs
Turkish supermarket chain TFC celebrates its 40th anniversary

The Turkish Food Centre, or TFC as it is better known today, opened its first branch in 1979 when there was a high demand for, but virtually non-existent supply of Turkish groceries in Britain. Four decades on and owners TFC Holdings were celebrating the chain’s 40th anniversary with a plush bash at Park Lane Hilton. Some 400 […]

Columnists
Talking dolma, direct flights & refugees with Faiza Shaheen, Labour’s new hope for Chingford & Woodford Green

One of the most closely contested constituencies of this General Election is one in East London. Labour are after a big scalp: that of Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader and architect of the widely despised Universal Credit benefits system. Standing against him is Faiza Shaheen, a 36-year-old British economist. The Labour candidate grew […]

Entrepreneurs
A hat-trick of awards for JJ Food Service – the UK’s largest Turkish Cypriot-owned business

National wholesaler JJ Food Service is celebrating after winning three prestigious industry awards on three consecutive days. On Thursday, 10 October, the JJ team were in Central London for the Women in Wholesale STAR Awards. The wholesaler has been spearheading industry efforts to actively recruit more females into various warehouse roles, and its ambitious targets, […]

Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs should “look beyond price” for the best insurance

Ender Yavaş Upton of Fairweather Insurance Services is reaching out to the Turkish community in Britain, both established entrepreneurs and those who have arrived more recently via the Ankara Agreement, to ensure they have the right insurance cover for their existing business or new venture. Fairweather Insurance, established 35 years ago, prides itself on finding […]

Entrepreneurs
“Denim king” British Turkish Cypriot businessman Şükrü Ahmed dies

On Saturday, 21 September, Turkish Cypriot businessman Şükrü Ahmed passed away in London aged 83 following a heart attack. He had been receiving treatment for an infection at Whipps Cross Hospital in the month leading up to his death. His family said they are “heartbroken” by this “huge loss” of Mr Ahmed, who was a […]

Features
My World: Olcay Bayır
 

Blessed with a heavenly voice, Olcay Bayır has been singing for as long as she can remember. She was born in Gaziantep to a Kurdish Alevi family steeped in the âşık (wandering minstrels) tradition, and her career as a classically-trained singer-songwriter is a perfect marriage of her roots and global music experiences following her move […]