UAE-based Mair Group acquires 70 percent of Espressolab

Mair Group, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed an official agreement to purchase 70 percent of the issued capital of Eslab, the parent company of the Turkish coffee chain Espressolab. Financial details were not disclosed in the transaction, which was recorded as the first international acquisition by the UAE-based investment group, which is traded on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange, since its public offering at the end of 2024. In accordance with the agreement, Eslab's founders and current shareholders will maintain their 30 percent shares and continue to play an active role in the company's growth and management processes.

IT WAS AT THE FOCUS OF THE BOYCOTT DISCUSSIONS

Espressolab, established under the umbrella of Kocadağ Yatırım, which includes Esat Kocadağ, sons of Sütiş's founder Mevlüt Kocadağ in 1953, and former Beşiktaş Vice President Emre Kocadağ, has recently come to the fore with political developments and boycott calls. The company became the target of reactions and boycott calls in the process that started with the detention and arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, 2025.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in his speech at the Saraçhane rallies on March 24-25, 2025, included the brand in the boycott list with the words "I love all kinds of coffee... Turkish coffee, filter coffee. Drink whatever you want, but do not drink it from Espressolab! They are supposed to take over the campuses... We will not visit Espressolab on campus, we will not drink its coffee." Regarding the brand, which was extensively searched during the process, Özgür Özel announced that Espressolab was removed from the corporate boycott list at the rally in Şişli on October 8, 2025.

'AN IMPORTANT STEP IN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH'

Making a statement after the acquisition move, Espressolab CEO Esat Kocadağ said, "Our partnership with Mair Group represents an important next step in Espressolab's international growth. Together, we aim to strengthen our franchise network, invest in the brand and customer experience, and grow in existing and new markets while preserving the identity and entrepreneurial culture that defines Espressolab."

Mair Group General Manager and Group CEO Nehayan Hamad Alameri emphasized that the partnership is part of the strategy to diversify investment portfolios by going beyond its core retail and commercial real estate focused activities in the UAE. Alameri said, "The transaction creates strategic synergies by bringing together Espressolab's international reach and brand capabilities with MAIR Group's investment and organizational power. We look forward to supporting the company in continuing its growth in Turkey and international markets."

THERE ARE MORE THAN 400 BRANCHES IN 21 COUNTRIES

Mair Group's portfolio includes the Adcop and Spar store chains, as well as the Makani Real Estate real estate portfolio. Espressolab, which joined the UAE giant, has a wide network of more than 400 cafes in 21 countries, according to August 2026 data. More than 310 of these branches provide service in more than 50 cities in Turkey.

In order to complete the share transfer transaction, it is expected that the necessary approvals will be obtained from the regulatory authorities of the relevant countries and the closing conditions in the agreement will be fulfilled.