Calgary-based Anatolia Turkish Foods has embarked on an expansion strategy that will see the brand grow into other markets in Canada.
The concept by chef-entrepreneur Mahmut Elbasi began in 2005 with a location at the Crossroads (farmers’) Market. Today it has locations there and at the two Calgary Farmers’ Markets (in the north and south parts of the city) as well as a restaurant in the heart of downtown Calgary and its recently-opened flagship restaurant and specialty store in the TransCanada Centre in northeast Calgary.
The TransCanada location is about 5,300 square feet and is an ethnic food store/restaurant combination, featuring an expanded offering of imported specialty food and retail items as well as the Turkish cuisine the brand is known for.
“We are looking at three more locations in Calgary. We visited a couple of months ago Vancouver, a couple of places. And Edmonton,” said Elbasi.
The company, which also has a wholesale business, is also looking at the Toronto market for growth.
Fairfield Commercial Real Estate in Calgary has been retained as the exclusive leasing representative for Anatolia Turkish Foods.
“In the restaurant business, you have to be patient,” said Elbasi.
“The second thing to be effective, I think if I was not a chef I think it would fail. My wife and I we work together a lot. At the beginning we were selling a six-seven dollar plate of food which was like for nothing. But we kept going for five or six years. People needed to get a very good experience.
“Also, lots of people are visiting Turkey and they taste the food there. They come and ask us if we have this food or that food.”
He added prices for the food items on their menu have gone up since when he started but they are still much less expensive than what they could be. Customers are also attracted to the fact the business is family-operated.
Anatolia is a region of Turkey where Elbasi came from. He worked there initially in the food industry as a dishwasher and moved his way up to being a chef. Many of the recipes at the different Anatolia Calgary establishments are traditional ones from that region.
When he moved to Calgary about 22 years ago he was hired by a local Turkish restaurant, Istanbul, as a chef. From there, Elbasi decided to go on his own and opened up his first location in the Crossroads Market with plans now to grow the concept in other major markets in Canada.
The firm offers a unique concept of authentic European – Turkish cuisine that features halal meat options, as well as a variety of fresh menu items for vegan and vegetarian patrons.
Anatolia is carving out its own niche within the Canadian food service industry and is embarking on a multi-format expansion program with its regional operating partners in greater Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and the greater Toronto markets.
According to Fairfield Commercial Real Estate, the company has the following, immediate food services space requirements:
- Casual Mediterranean dining restaurants 2,000 – 2,500 square feet in Burnaby, Langley, South Surrey and the greater Toronto market;
- Ethnic food store / restaurant combo 5,000 – 6,000 square feet in southwest Calgary and northwest Edmonton; and
- Food Halls in mixed-use urban projects and regional shopping centre food courts 450 – 600 square feet in the Calgary market.
