Turkish food price and production trends

In October 2026, AK Party member Zekeriya Eroğlu criticized the management of Istanbul Halk Ekmek A.Ş. during an Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council meeting. Eroğlu reported that while production capacity increased by 20 percent since 2019, annual bread sales fell from 250 million units in 2019 to 219 million in 2025. He also noted that the workforce grew by approximately 50 percent during that period. Additionally, Eroğlu highlighted that the price of standard Halk Ekmek rose from 0.75 TL in 2019 to 12.50 TL in 2026, which reduced its price advantage over commercial bakery bread from 50 percent to roughly 28 percent.

By November 2026, some local food vendors in Turkey began implementing price reductions on staple items to assist with rising costs. In the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş, a bakery owner reduced bread prices from 18 TL to 10 TL. In Kilis, a döner vendor set the price of a wrap at 30 TL, which is noted as being significantly below market averages. The vendor stated his intention to maintain this pricing through 2027 to support the community.