Kızılay's mineral water production is marking its 100th anniversary with a new source and an expanding beverage portfolio as it prepares to enter its second century.

The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) celebrated the milestone Wednesday with a program at its production facilities in Afyonkarahisar, western Türkiye, where its story began in 1926. The event, hosted by Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, highlighted the brand’s century-long history as well as its plans for the years ahead.

The mineral water’s century-old journey began in Afyonkarahisar’s Gazlıgöl, where republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk found relief from kidney problems after drinking the town’s mineral water. He later helped establish a factory in Gazlıgöl and, in 1926, entrusted the mineral water to Kızılay, creating a lasting source of income to help people in need.

A century later, that legacy has grown into Kızılay Beverages, which today operates four production facilities: mineral water plants in Afyonkarahisar and Erzincan, a beverage plant in Adana and a Kızılay water facility in Kocaeli.

Producing 29 products across categories including mineral water, drinking water, functional beverages, soda, iced tea and lemonade, Kızılay Beverages’ annual production has reached approximately 2 billion bottles, with exports to 26 countries.

Production that gives back

A bottle of Kızılay mineral water can do more than quench a thirst. The value it generates helps sustain Kızılay’s humanitarian work.

"Kızılay mineral water is more than an established brand for us; it is one of the finest examples of production transformed into something good,” Yılmaz said during her speech at the Kızılay Beverages’ 100th Anniversary Program.

She noted that Kızılay’s humanitarian activities come with high costs at a time when humanitarian needs are rising worldwide while funding for aid is under increasing pressure.

"Today, Kızılay stands on three pillars: the donations of our people, the efforts of our volunteers and the value generated by our subsidiaries,” Yılmaz said. "Kızılay's mineral water is the first and most established example of this approach.”

The model, she said, allows the value created through production to support Kızılay’s work in the field, from disaster response and hot meals to assistance for people in need in Türkiye and beyond.

"A bottle of mineral water turns into a hot meal served at a soup kitchen,” Yılmaz said. "It turns into aid reaching someone in need in a disaster zone. It turns into a helping hand extended beyond our borders.”

"That is exactly what we mean by production that turns into something good,” she said.

New products, new source

Carrying its mineral water expertise into new beverage categories, Kızılay Beverages continues to develop new products and beverage technologies at the Professor Dr. Besim Ömer Akalın R&D Center in Afyonkarahisar.

One example is the Kızılay Plus+ family, which combines Kızılay Erzincan’s magnesium-rich natural mineral water with functional ingredients. The sugar-free, calorie-free and preservative-free range expands the brand’s offering into functional beverages.

The company also operates in the spring water sector through Kızılay Water, bringing Gölcük’s natural spring water to consumers while preserving its natural qualities and mineral balance in line with quality standards.

Kızılay Beverages is entering its second century with Kızılay Minera, a new source originating in Afyonkarahisar and positioned in the premium mineral water segment with a lighter drinking profile. While preserving its natural mineral structure, Minera is designed to offer a different consumption experience across settings ranging from homes and restaurants to hotels and cafes. The new source also expands Kızılay Beverages’ production capacity and broadens its presence across the mineral water market.

Kızılay Mineral Water, meanwhile, was named the most reputable mineral water brand of the year at the 12th The ONE Awards Integrated Marketing Awards, organized in cooperation with Marketing Türkiye and Akademetre.