Allegra Events to host Istanbul tour during European Coffee Symposium

Allegra Events is hosting a study tour of Istanbul as part of the European Coffee Symposium, being held at the InterContinental Istanbul, 24 – 26 November. Participants will get the chance to experience Istanbul’s dynamic branded and independent coffee scene during a guided tour of the city. According to organisers, the full day event aims to give first time visitors to Istanbul the chance to discover its newest coffee concepts, while delving into the city’s colourful past. With 1331 branded coffee shops, Turkey has become the third largest market in Europe, growing by almost 20 per cent in 2013, according to the latest report by UK-based market research firm Allegra Strategies. Allegra estimates that Turkey’s branded coffee shop market will grow at an impressive rate of 10.4 per cent a year over the next five years, to exceed 2000 outlets by 2018. Managing Director of Allegra Strategies Jeffrey Young is a keynote speaker at this year’s Symposium, which is titled Beyond borders – from home markets to globalisation. Other speakers include Isik Kecici Asur, Founder, Director and Board Member of Infinity Invest Holdings and Doug Zell, Founder of Intelligentsia, to name a few. The Symposium will also feature a workshop series of business lessons from a range of experts in their fields and the announcement of the European Coffee Awards.