comprise the main market for imported food and beverages, but only 5-10% of the total restaurant market. After retailing and catering, the high-end restaurant business has also become very popular as a new investment area for big conglomerates. It offers profitability and strong cash flow, pluses for companies considering the benefit of Turkeys high real interest rates.Along with a great many restaurants specializing in Turkish cuisine, there are a conciderable number, which specialize in foreign food. The number of foreign cuisine restaurants has now reached 200-250. Turkish people are open to new tastes. Italian, French and far Eastern cuisinas are particularly popular. Fashion plays its part-Mexican food is a new favorite among trendy Turkish Restaurant- goers. Foreign cuisine restaurants procure their imported items eighter through importers or wholesalers. In the case of urgent or specialty needs, hypermarket are used. Few international chains, TGI Fridays import directly. The main import items are wine, beer, fish products, speciality cheeses, soucesand pastry, and staple items like corn, rice etc. when domestic supplies are not appropriate. Many restaurants owners have expressed interest in imported meat products. If the government lifts the current ban on such items. Food purchasing managers complain about cumbersum import procedures choking supply. Many restaurants do not have the staff expertise to negotiate the way through the importing process. Restaurant chains in general have not become popular yet in Turkey-most are single entity businesses. An exception to this is fast food chains, discussed next.Below is a list of the major foreign cuisine restaurants:CHARTTTTT UZUUUN Fast Food Restaurants Fast food chains are a relatively new concept in Turkey, with only a 13 year history. With the entrance of foreign chains like Mc Donalds and Burger King. Turkeys fast food market reached about $480 million in 1998. Cu...
