Azersun Holding MMC is an Azerbaijani conglomerate that operates in the food production, retail, and farming sectors primarily in Azerbaijan but also in other CIS countries and the Middle East. Azersun is the largest food producer and exporter in Azerbaijan and also engages in the trade of paper and packaging.
History
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Azerbaijani government determined to establish an efficient private-sector food manufacturing capability so as to not rely on processed food imports. As existing food manufacturers were not prepared for the wave of international competition set off by Azerbaijan's independence, the industry was ripe for consolidation. Brothers Abdolbari Goozal and Hassan Gozal saw an opportunity and set up a local branch office of their Unilever distributorship in Baku. They first began to distribute solely Unilever products and then added other brands and then secured a contract with Unilever to establish a manufacturing facility that was jointly owned. Eventually they branched out on their own and with the support of the government, they began to purchase, consolidate, and restructure existing Azerbaijani companies creating the first and largest Azerbaijani private food conglomerate. In 1996, they established their trading company in Dubai.
Acquisitions and subsidiaries
Subsidiaries of Azersun include:
Sun Tea Çay Fabriki - tea factory purchased in 1994
Bakı Qida və Yağ Fabriki - edible oil factory purchased in 1995
Zeytun emalı Fabriki - paper factory purchased in 1997
Azərbaycan Kağız Karton Istehsalat Kombinati - cardboard factory purchased in 1997
Qida Paketləmə Müəssisəsi - food processing factory purchased in 1998
Zeytun Emali Fabriki - olive processing factory purchased in 2002
Qafqaz Konserv Zavodu - canned food factory purchased in 2003
Qafqaz Metal Qablaşdırma Sənaye - metal packaging factory purchased in 2005
Zaqatala Fındıq Fabriki - Hazelnut factory purchased in 2006
Azərbaycan Şəkər İstehsalat Birliyi - Azerbaijan's largest sugar refiner purchased in 2006
Natural Green Land - edible oil factory established in 2006
Qənd İstehsalı Fabriki - sugar producer purchased in 2009
Azərbaycan Duz Istehsalat Birliyi - salt factory purchased in 2010
Qazax Konserv Zavodu - canned food factory purchased in 2012
Green Tech Istixana Kompleksi - vegetable products company purchased in 2012
Kürdəmir Süd Kompleksi - dairy purchased in 2013
Sumyagit Yag Fabriki - edible oil factory purchased in 2014
