Social Responsibility Projects

An Aegean Story Brought to Life by the Hands of Women from Ayvalık

Yudum Egemden olive oils are part of a heartfelt project crafted by the skillful hands of women in Ayvalık. With over half a century of experience in olive oil production, Yudum brings both meaning and value to its hometown through the social responsibility initiative “The Abundance of the Aegean, the Labor of Women.”

Launched in collaboration with the Municipality of Ayvalık, this project transforms specially designed Egemden olive oil bottles into colorful works of art reflecting the dreams of Ayvalık’s women. By participating in the project, women contribute to their household income and reach hearts they’ve never met, all through Yudum Egemden.

Ayvalık, where Yudum’s production facility is located, is the home of Savola Gıda Turkey and its brands. Houmer Balazadeh, General Manager of Savola Gıda Turkey, emphasizes the company’s contribution to the local economy:
“Our investment in Ayvalık ranks third in the region’s economy, following tourism and olive oil, accounting for 25% of the local economy. As Savola Gıda Turkey, we develop projects to both strengthen our ties with Ayvalık and to support women’s participation in production and empower farmers. ‘The Abundance of the Aegean, the Labor of Women’ is our flagship social responsibility investment.”

A unique project in the industry supporting women’s employment

Balazadeh underlines that the company’s social responsibility investments are centered around sustainability and contributing value to Turkey:
“We are proud that ‘The Abundance of the Aegean, the Labor of Women’ is the only initiative in our industry focused on increasing women’s employment. While delivering the high quality of Ayvalık olive oil to tables with our Yudum Egemden brand, this project also supports Ayvalık’s women who wish to contribute to their households. Each Egemden bottle, painted by hand and brought to life with the dreams of these women, becomes a work of art and a small story of happiness. Through this project, we aim to celebrate and preserve Ayvalık’s culture and values, drawing inspiration from iconic local imagery such as olive trees, Ayvalık cats, and historic doors.”

Yudum Egemden: A globally awarded brand

In addition to its contributions to Ayvalık through social responsibility, Yudum ensures that olive oil produced from this region is recognized and appreciated worldwide. Ezgi Nur Tamdoğan, Marketing Director of Savola Gıda Turkey, shares their pride in Yudum Egemden Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil receiving six awards from five countries in 2022, affirming its exceptional quality and flavor.

In 2022, this product received the Gold Award at Olive China—Asia’s most prestigious olive oil competition—along with Silver Medals at Olive Japan and the Italy-based EVO International Olive Oil Contest. It also earned a Silver Award at the London International Olive Oil Competition and a High-Quality Standard recognition at Italy’s Master of Olive Oil Competition. The product won a Gold Medal at the TerraOlivo Mediterranean International Olive Oil Competition as well.

Yudum Egemden Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from carefully selected; unripe green olives grown in the fertile lands of the Aegean