Through the “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım” (“Count Me In”) project, ŞOK Marketler remains committed to showcasing products from women’s cooperatives across diverse regions of Türkiye to its customers. To gain insights into the transformative effects of the project on the economic empowerment of women, Belén Sanz Luque, Regional Director for UN Women Europe and Central Asia, made the first visit to ŞOK Marketler to experience it firsthand. The visit was hosted by Chair of Yıldız Holding Ali Ülker and CEO of ŞOK Marketler Uğur Demirel, with representatives from women’s cooperatives also in attendance. 

A noteworthy visit took place within the scope of the “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım” (“Count Me In”) project, initiated by ŞOK Marketler to support the economic empowerment of women. Regional Director for UN Women Europe and Central Asia, Belén Sanz Luque, engaged with Yıldız Holding Chair Ali Ülker, ŞOK Marketler CEO Uğur Demirel, and representatives from women’s cooperatives at a ŞOK Marketler store to gain in-depth insights into the project.

During the visit, comprehensive information was shared regarding the development and social impact of the “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım”(“Count Me In”) project, which is one of the most significant initiatives under the Yıldız Holding Women’s Platform, a strategic partner of UN Women Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program. The successful outcomes of the project were also experienced firsthand.

Project Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım” (“Count Me In”)

Following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş-Hatay earthquake, high school student Melisa Demirel launched a project aimed at promoting women’s participation in production within the affected areas, which has received support from ŞOK Marketler. Initially introduced under the “Ben de Varım” (“Count Me In”) initiative of ŞOK Marketler, the project garnered substantial interest and has since been expanded. This initiative provides customers with access to handmade products crafted by women’s cooperatives from diverse regions, including Hatay, Adana and Ankara, at selected ŞOK stores.

Over 100,000 products purchased, creating more than 10 million TL in economic value.

Since November 2023, ŞOK Marketler has collaborated with cooperatives such as Altınözü Women’s Cooperative (Hazek) in Hatay, Beypazarı Kınalı Eller Women’s Cooperative in Ankara, and Çukurova Başak Cooperative in Adana to provide these products to customers in its stores. The women’s cooperatives supported by ŞOK Marketler in areas such as product content and label design offer a variety of items, including olives, tarhana, dried vegetables, geographically indicated products, and handmade headscarves, which are sold in nearly 250 ŞOK stores. Through the “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım” (“Count Me In”) project, ŞOK Marketler has purchased over 100,000 products from these cooperatives to date, creating more than 10 million TL in economic value.

We are striving for a more sustainable future with projects spanning our entire ecosystem

Reflecting on the initiative, Yıldız Holding Chairman Ali Ülker remarked, “We established the Yıldız Holding Women’s Platform three years ago, emphasizing equality of opportunity and inclusivity, which are fundamental to Yıldız Holding’s global values. Through this platform, we implement a range of impactful programs to foster women’s participation in the economy, and strive for a more sustainable future with projects spanning our entire ecosystem. Since 2022, we have proudly been a strategic partner of UN Women. We take pride in our platform serving as a transformative role model within the business sector, inspiring our stakeholders with its successful endeavors. implementing initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs throughout all our companies. Among the most significant initiatives launched within this framework is “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım,” and the impressive outcomes we have achieved in such a brief period fill us with great pride. Upholding our principle of “Empowering Together with Stakeholders,” a cornerstone of our sustainability philosophy, we encourage all our stakeholders to join us in this journey and contribute to the efforts aimed at economically and socially empowering women.”

ŞOK Marketler CEO Uğur Demirel stated, “At ŞOK Marketler, driving the development of the communities we are part of and contributing to the sustainable growth of our country in every aspect is at the core of all our operations. Ensuring equal opportunities for women is one of our key focus areas. Our “ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım” project enhances women’s economic power, supporting their increased participation in production. Thus far, we have made products from cooperatives available to our customers in nearly 250 stores, and we are committed to expanding this number further. It has been a great pleasure to host UN Women Director Belén Sanz Luque to share these achievements on the ground. As part of Yıldız Holding, we are committed to implementing responsible procurement practices in line with its vision for economic development, diversity, and inclusivity at ŞOK Marketler. Our goal is to empower women to assertively declare, ‘I am here’ in every aspect of life, and as a company that leads in promoting women’s employment, we align all our initiatives with this vision.”

Belén Sanz Luque, Regional Director for UN Women Europe and Central Asia, expressed appreciation for ŞOK Marketler's project supporting women's entrepreneurship, highlighting, “The incorporation of Gender-Responsive Procurement (GRP) practices into Yıldız Holding's supply chain policies plays a pivotal role in fostering economic development, diversity, equity, and inclusion among suppliers. It is particularly gratifying to see Yıldız Holding, a strategic partner of UN Women, surpass its three-year commitment to advancing women’s entrepreneurship within a single year. The successful outcomes of ŞOK Marketler’s 'ŞOK’ta Ben de Varım' ('Count Me In') project, aimed at ensuring equal opportunities in the supply chain, along with the company’s steadfast dedication, are highly commendable. We are proud that our collaboration with Yıldız Holding is recognized as one of UN Women's exemplary initiatives in Gender-Responsive Procurement. This project not only sets a strong global example but also underscores the importance of partnerships with the private sector. UN Women is committed to working closely with the private sector to drive gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.”