 |
|
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Native name |
Veysəloğlu Şirkətlər Qrupu |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Retail, Wholesale, Distribution, Logistics, Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Aydin Talibov |
| Headquarters | Baku, Azerbaijan |
|
Area served |
Azerbaijan, Georgia |
| Products | Food and non-food products |
|
Number of employees |
25,000+[1] |
| Subsidiaries | Araz markets, Oba markets, Rossmann Azerbaijan |
| Website | www |
Veyseloglu Group of Companies is an Azerbaijani privately held company operating in retail, logistics, and manufacturing. Founded in 1994, the group operates primarily in Azerbaijan and Georgia.[1]
History
Veyseloglu Group of Companies was founded in 1994 by Azerbaijani entrepreneur Aydin Talibov.[1] His business activity began in 1992 with the wholesale trade of biscuit and confectionery products. On 5 November 1994, the first large-scale import of consumer goods from Türkiye to Azerbaijan was carried out, leading to the establishment of Veyseloglu Distribution.[2] This date is regarded as the starting point of the Veyseloglu Group of Companies.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Group expanded its distribution network across Azerbaijan. In 2001, a regional logistics center was established in Mingachevir, followed by another regional facility in Salyan in 2006. In 2007, the Group opened a professional warehouse in Baku and introduced an automated warehouse system to its supply chain.
The Group entered the manufacturing sector in the early 2000s. In 2001, it established the Ulduz Chocolate Factory, one of the country’s major confectionery production facilities.[3]
As an investor, the founder of the Group played a role in the restoration of the Sirab mineral water plant, which had ceased operations following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The founder participated in the plant’s reconstruction in 2002, contributing to its return to Azerbaijan’s economy. In addition, since 2023, the Group has been among the investors in the Badamli mineral water plant, one of the country’s oldest mineral water brands.
In 2010, Veyseloglu expanded beyond Azerbaijan with the establishment of VG, a distribution company operating in Georgia.[4] This marked the Group’s first international expansion.
In 2011, the group entered the retail sector by establishing AzRetail LLC under the Araz supermarket brand.[5] The chain initially launched with four stores and subsequently expanded its operations nationwide.[6]
The Group has also shown interest in the food service sector. In 2014, it played an investment role in bringing the global Entrée brand to Azerbaijan.
In 2016, the group launched the OBA discount retail chain, which became the first retail chain in Azerbaijan reported to have opened its 1,000th store.[7]
The Group further expanded its manufacturing activities by establishing the “Khoncha” confectionery factory in 2016.
In 2017, the Group commissioned one of the largest logistics centers in the Caucasus region and Azerbaijan’s first A+ class warehouse in the village of Mammadli, Absheron District. Through the Mammadli Logistics Center, more than 64,000 kilometers are covered daily, enabling the delivery of goods to over 4,500 customer locations across Azerbaijan.
In June 2022, Veyseloglu Group of Companies entered into a partnership with the German drugstore chain Rossmann to open its first stores in Azerbaijan.[8]
In 2022, the “VIP-Prod” factory began operations, providing catering services and producing frozen food products for customers.
In December 2023, Veyseloglu Group of Companies, through its OBA discount retail chain, opened a retail store in Khankendi. This was reported as the first market to begin operations in the city during the post-conflict period.[9]
In 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a financing package of up to $10.5 million to support the expansion of Veyseloglu Group of Companies’ Araz supermarket chain, including investments in logistics infrastructure and new store openings.[10]
By the 2020s, Veyseloglu Group of Companies had diversified its operations across distribution, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and food services.[1]
Operations
Veyseloglu Group of Companies operates in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector through distribution, retail, manufacturing, logistics, and food service activities.[2]
Distribution
Veyseloglu Group of Companies carries out its distribution activities through several subsidiary companies operating in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Veyseloglu Distribution, a subsidiary of the Group, is engaged in the nationwide distribution of food and consumer goods products across Azerbaijan and represents a number of international manufacturers in the local market, including the LEGO Group.[11] It also distributes products from several international consumer goods manufacturers, including Nestlé, Mars, and Kimberly-Clark.[12]
VG Distribution, operating in Georgia, focuses on wholesale distribution and supplies products to retail outlets across the country, cooperating with regional and international manufacturers.
V-Trade, a subsidiary of the Group, operates in the food sector and specializes in the distribution and import-export of products such as powdered sugar and cereals.
Vesta-Horeca, a subsidiary of Veysəloğlu Group of Companies, operates in the HoReCa sector, supplying food products and raw materials to restaurants, hotels, cafes, and catering businesses, including products from manufacturers such as Roshen and Massimo Zanetti.
Logistics
The Group operates regional logistics centers supporting nationwide distribution across Azerbaijan.[13] Its logistics infrastructure includes a large-scale logistics center and a high-standard warehouse facility located in the Absheron region, as well as cold logistics capabilities supporting the distribution of frozen and fresh food products.[13]
Manufacturing
Manufacturing activities include confectionery, bakery products, paper goods, and bottled drinking water.[14] The Group operates several production facilities, including the Ulduz Chocolate Factory and the Khoncha Factory.
The Ulduz Chocolate Factory produces confectionery products such as chocolate, caramel, wafer, and dragee products. The factory operates multiple production lines and exports its products to markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.[14]
The Khoncha Factory specializes in the production of frozen bakery products, including bread, buns, cakes, and packaged ready-to-bake goods. Its products are supplied to the Group’s Araz supermarket chain and are baked in-store prior to sale. The factory follows a centralized production model, supplying semi-finished frozen products that are baked at retail locations.[15]
The Group also operates VIP-PROD LLC, which provides catering services and produces frozen food products distributed through the Araz and OBA retail chains.
Retail
Araz supermarket chain is the Group’s primary supermarket format, operating as a nationwide grocery retail network. The chain offers a broad range of food and non-food products, including fresh produce, packaged foods, household goods, and private-label items. Araz stores operate under a standardized store layout and centralized supply model supported by the Group’s logistics infrastructure. As of recent years, Araz operates approximately 400 stores across Azerbaijan and employs more than 12,000 people.[6]
OBA operates as the Group’s discount retail format, focusing on affordability and proximity-based retail. The chain emphasizes a limited assortment strategy, competitive pricing, and neighborhood store locations, primarily serving residential areas. With more than 1,600 locations nationwide, OBA represents one of the largest discount retail networks in Azerbaijan.[16]
Rossmann operates in Azerbaijan through a partnership with Veyseloglu Group of Companies, introducing the German drugstore retail format to the local market. Rossmann stores specialize in personal care, cosmetics, hygiene products, baby care items, and household goods, offering a mix of international and private-label brands. As of recent years, more than 40 Rossmann stores operate across the country.[17]
Food services
Veyseloglu Group of Companies operates in the food service sector through the Entrée café chain. Its food service operations are focused on café-style dining and beverage services. The Group’s food service activities are primarily concentrated in Baku, where Entrée cafés serve both local residents and visitors through dine-in and takeaway formats.
Sustainability
In 2025, the company became a participant in the United Nations Global Compact.[18]
The group is also a signatory to the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles.[19]
