Istegelsin

About Istegelsin

Istegelsin operates as Turkey's pioneering pure online supermarket, a venture initiated in 2018 by Mehmet Fatih Saraç and later led by CEO Sedat Yıldırım. The company officially launched in 2019, aiming to simplify the lives of urban consumers by providing an affordable and intelligent shopping solution. A significant milestone in its history was the acquisition in April 2024 by Şok Marketler Ticaret A.Ş., which purchased all shares of Istegelsin's parent company, Future Teknoloji Ticaret A.Ş.

The business functions on a direct-to-consumer, online retail model, targeting city dwellers who face time constraints. Istegelsin's core value proposition addresses common frustrations with online grocery shopping, such as freshness and delivery timeliness. The company purchases goods from approximately 180 different suppliers and stores them in its own cold storage facilities, known as "dark stores." This model allows for meticulous control over the cold chain, ensuring products like fresh produce, bakery items, and meat are kept at the correct temperature from the store to the customer's door. This operational setup enables Istegelsin to promise and achieve a high on-time delivery rate, typically within a specified one-hour window.

Revenue is generated directly from the sale of over seven thousand products, including fresh groceries, coffee, and cleaning supplies, offered at competitive prices. The service is accessible through its mobile application, available on major app stores. Initially focused on cities like Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Ankara, the company has expanded its reach. While fresh and cold-chain products are delivered via its dedicated, fully-equipped vehicle fleet within specific cities, thousands of other transportable products can be shipped via cargo to all 81 cities in Turkey. The company's growth was notably accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted consumer habits towards online platforms.