Mehmet Nezir Korkut

Born in 1984 in Mardin, Turkey, and contributed to the family economy by starting to work in various jobs at an early age, alongside studying at school. He started to spend his summer holidays working in tourism areas from the age of 11. As soon as he finished high school, at the age of 16, he turned his focus to tourism. When he was 19 years old he opened his first restaurant in Marmaris. Korkut, who is actively involved in all areas of the restaurant business, continues to provide an authentic experience to his guests by re-creating the cuisine of Mesopotamia and Anatolia that he knows very well, but with a modern twist. He moved to the UK in 2009 and took over a small business named Panicos that served take away food. Within 3 years, he re-established this small business in a new property and refurbished the old property turning it into Olive & Thyme Restaurant. The new business soon gained a prestigious place in Manchester’s competitive restaurant market. Korkut relishes the challenge of refurbishing and establishing a business along with making and presenting delicious food. Whilst setting up his businesses he has provided work for many colleagues with a proven track record in the restaurant trade, who he had worked within Turkey. He currently employs approximately 100 people in his various businesses.

In 2012 through the success and reliability of the new team, he enrolled at the University of Salford to study International Relations and Politics, obtaining an honours degree with distinction. In his thesis at university, he maintained a business focus, basing his thesis on the relation between Turkey & the European Union (EU). He researched the factors that would aid the process of Turkey becoming a member of the EU. Korkut recognised that Turkish brands needed to forge a link to Europe and felt that this idea should not remain as a theory. So, after graduating from university he began the process of putting his idea into practice.

Korkut’s first move was entering into an agreement with Sultanahmet Köftecisi that he knew to be a leading brand in Turkey, with 100-years of history in the restaurant business. He obtained the Master Franchise License of Sultanahmet Köftecisi for England, during 2015, and opened the first UK branch in the following year.

Whilst the project of opening further branches continues, he took over Cafe Istanbul which is the oldest Turkish restaurant in Manchester. He increased his business growth by opening Barbers of Istanbul in Manchester to further establish his theory in Turkish brands and businesses and has also taken over a further takeaway business.

While taking over Italian Express he has taken up a new interest in cars! Watch this space for further developments in this realm.

Mehmet Nezir Korkut is globalising internationally, transforming his ideals and hobbies into work and his life. Knowing three languages -English, Turkish, Kurdish- which he can speak like his mother tongue, he recognises the importance of education and is about to make his name with a huge educational establishment.

While aiming to grow with the strides he has been making in his current businesses he now has his sight set on the automotive trade.

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