Cola Turka

Introduced in Turkey in 2003, Cola Turka was created by the food group Ülker as a locally rooted alternative to the American cola giants. The launch on 25 June 2003 was accompanied by a heavily patriotic campaign that emphasized Turkish taste and identity rather than global glamour.

Ülker, founded in 1944, grew into one of Turkey’s largest producers of confectionery, biscuits, and beverages. The company was part of Yıldız Holding, which in 2015 sold its beverage division – including Cola Turka – to the Japanese beverage manufacturer DyDo Drinco. Despite its new international ownership, Cola Turka has remained true to its roots and continues to be marketed as a Turkish cola.

Over time, several versions have appeared: Cola Turka Light, an orange-flavored MIX, and a short-lived cappuccino variant from the late 2000s. Packaging has ranged from small 200 ml glass bottles to 3-liter PET formats, and exports to Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries have kept the brand familiar among Turkish communities abroad.

In Kenneth’s collection

• A 330 ml can (exp. July 2016), which was one of the last to be produced by Ülker.
• A 330 ml can (exp. February 2025) with a design introduced in 2018.
• A 200 ml glass bottle (exp. July 2025).

Sources: Wikipedia (Cola Turka), National Museum of American History (Cola Turka Can).
See also: CanMuseum.com.