mports. Imported food products are generally handled by specialist import distribution companies. The best approach for new-to-market exporters is to first contact importer/distributors. B.Sub-sector ProfilesHotels and ResortsThe hotel sector has a 15% market share of total food service sales. 25-30% of sector revenue comes from food&beverages, with 73% and 27% shares respectively. There were 3,308 hotels in Turkey by the end of 1998, of which 460 were 5 and 4 stars hotels, accounting for 34% of the total number of beds. Its expected that between 2000-2005 the growth in hotel and resorts food service will increase by 15-20% per year, parelleling the growth in the tourism sector from $7 billion in 1998 to $15-20 billion in 2005.CHARTTTTTTTT(UZUN )Four and five star hotels and holiday resorts with foreign cuisine restaurants, catering not only to foreign but also domestic tourists, business meetings and conferences, form the major target group for imported food and beverage items.Hotels contact importers and distributors for their imported food and beverages needs. It is rare for hotels and restaurants to purchase imported items from cash and carry outlets or hypermarkets since these businesses work on cash payment and do not offer delivery service. RestaurantsThe total number of restaurants in Turkey as of 1998 was about 45,000. Restaurants comprise the leading market segment in the food service sector, accounting in 1998 for 37% of total food service sales-91% in food and 9% in beverages. It is a large category covering all kinds of outlets from traditional kebab and pide houses to luxurious restaurants offering a wide variety of international menus. Traditional restaurants have a 26 % share of total restaurant sales. Their use of imported food and beverages is small, as the high import tariffs are a major deterent. An average 10% growth rate is expected in restaurant food service for the next 5 years. Luxury restaurants...
