Our late founder, Gökçin Aras, left a lasting legacy as a pioneering business leader who introduced many firsts in Turkey's store equipment and warehouse racking systems industry. He created a global brand trusted by world-renowned companies and set the direction for the industry. The ideals and innovative vision he brought to life with his team continue to inspire us on our brand's journey.
Gökçin Aras was born in 1954 in Göle, Ardahan. Due to the reassignment of his father, who was a graduate of a Village Institute and a teacher, the family moved to Bursa in 1967. Starting at the age of 13, Gökçin Aras lived in Bursa, where he completed his middle and high school education. He later graduated from the Turkish Language and Literature Department at Bursa Educational Institute.
In addition to his education, he also studied at Ankara University Faculty of Law. Gökçin Aras began his retail journey in 1976 with a small shelving workshop in Bursa, and with the ÜÇGE brand, he completed 46 years in the industry. As a successful businessman, he played active roles in the structuring of various civil society organizations, including TUGIAD, GESIAD, and KESIAD. A passionate sports enthusiast, Aras served as the vice president on the board of directors of Bursaspor and held various management positions at different times. He was also the president of Emniyet Spor, which competed in the Volleyball 1st League, for a period.
Coming from a family of educators and placing great importance on education, Gökçin Aras, with the principle of "Our children are our future," built Hayriye Aras Elementary School in Çobanlı Village, Ardahan, in honor of his mother, and Teacher Mehmet Aras Elementary School in Beşevler, Bursa, in memory of his father, who was also a teacher.
Within the scope of social responsibility, one of its biggest goals has been to contribute to our children, youth and our country in sports, culture, arts and many other fields. Gökçin Aras was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ÜÇGE Group Companies, which he founded, and served as a Board Member of GPD (Food Retailers Association) between 2016 and 2022. ÜÇGE, founded by Gökçin Aras with the principles of Strength Trust Görkem, is today among the important suppliers of the retail, logistics and industrial sectors in the world.
The story of ÜÇGE, the company itself included in the history of Turkish grocery and food retail industry, and the ideals that its founder Gökçin Aras brought to life with his team; continues to inspire manufacturers that continue their journey to become a world brand.
