A random find changed his life - now he earns 3000 euros

A resident of the Turkish city of Trabzon, Ulku Kocoglu, turned accidentally discovered snails into a profitable business.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the entrepreneur breeds black snails of the "Helix Aspersa Maxima" species and supplies them to the global cosmetic market under the "Googlis" brand.

Snail caviar proved to be an especially valuable product, which he sells at a price of 3,000 euros (approximately 5,920 AZN) per kilogram to various countries around the world.

Seeing the growing demand, Kocoglu decided to significantly expand his production.

In developing his business, Ulku Kocoglu received support from the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey. 600 kilograms of breeding snails and 500,000 young specimens were imported from Bulgaria. In the Ortahisar district of Trabzon city, on an area of 6 hectares, they began breeding black snails of the "Helix Aspersa Maxima" species.

For a year and a half now, the farm has been collecting snails and their caviar. Natural snails eventually became the basis for developing new products for the cosmetic industry. The enterprise produces 10 different natural skin care products - from cleansing gel and tonic to anti-aging night cream and stretch mark remedy.

Snail caviar, known in the international market as "white caviar," sells for about 3,000 euros (approximately 5,920 AZN). This high-value product is one of the key export items of the enterprise. No chemical fertilizers are used when growing snails. Instead, they are fed environmentally friendly vegetables - lettuce, cabbage, beets, and radishes grown using snail compost. The company's name also reflects the culture of Trabzon. "Googlis" is the local name for black snails, which inspired the creation of the brand.

Ulku Kocoglu spoke about creating a production model open to the global market:

"The name 'Googlis' comes from the local dialect of Trabzon. When choosing a name for the farm, we drew inspiration from what snails are called in Trabzon. I started this business because of my respect for nature and passion for production. During the pandemic, I realized that land snails have enormous potential not only in the cosmetic field but also in agriculture, fertilizer production, and pharmaceuticals. Since that day, I have strived to create a production model that adds economic value to both our region and the country. We have created a production center where we grow 'Helix Aspersa Maxima' land snails. We operate on a zero-waste principle, using all parts of the snail, including the shell and feces."

Kocoglu emphasized that snail fertilizer is one of the most valuable in the world.

"Today at 'Googlis,' we are bringing natural snail extract to the global market under our brand. Our goal is to turn the value created in Trabzon into a global brand. For us, this is not just production; we want to use the power of science and labor to carry something from nature into the future. Snail fertilizer is one of the most powerful natural extracts for cell regeneration. It has high value in both the medical and cosmetic sectors. Our farm contributes not only to Trabzon's economy but also to Turkey's export goals."

Kocoglu also reported that they supply raw materials to Europe: "Everything related to this animal is so valuable, and we don't even suspect it. Their caviar is one of the most important in the world. We see great demand for our skin care products, especially in the Middle East. Currently, we are also selling in Europe and supplying raw materials there. Our farm is only a year and a half old, but we are already achieving results that exceed our expectations."