BİM Birleşik Mağazalar, one of Türkiye’s biggest grocery retailers, is setting up a new technology company that will develop software and could move into fintech and payment services, Turkish media reported on Oct. 15.
Following a decision by BİM’s board, the retailer will be the sole founder and sole shareholder of the new company, which will have initial capital of 250,000 liras, according to NTV. The name of the company was not disclosed in the report.
From shelves to software
The planned activities of the new firm are wide-ranging. They include software development and computer programming, and trade in technology products such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals and ATMs.
The company will also carry out research and development, engineering and consulting in artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing and cybersecurity. It is expected to operate in technology development zones, Türkiye’s tax-advantaged tech parks, and to offer e-commerce and digital platform services.
Most notably, the company’s scope includes fintech, digital banking and payment services, subject to obtaining the necessary licenses and permits from regulators.
Banking ambitions
The move fits a broader push by BİM beyond traditional retailing. In December 2025, the company told the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that it would apply to the banking regulator BDDK for permission to set up a participation bank, Türkiye’s term for banks operating under Islamic finance principles. Reports at the time said most of the planned bank’s activity was expected to run through digital channels, drawing on BİM’s store network and customer base.
A captive technology company could give BİM in-house capacity to build payment systems, POS infrastructure and customer data tools that support those plans, rather than relying entirely on outside vendors.
Why it matters
BİM operates one of the densest store networks in Türkiye, with discount outlets in almost every town, and serves millions of shoppers each day. That reach makes it an attractive platform for payments and consumer finance, a path taken by large retailers in other markets.
Turkish retailers and holding companies have been increasingly active in fintech, while the country’s payments sector has grown quickly on the back of high card usage and the spread of mobile banking.
The initial capital of the new entity is small, suggesting it will initially serve as a vehicle for the group’s technology operations. Any move into regulated activities such as payments or digital banking would require separate approval from Turkish authorities.
Sources
- Perakende devinden sürpriz. BİM bu kez çok farklı sektöre giriyor (NTV)
- BİM banka mı kuruyor? Ne zaman faaliyete başlayacak? (Hisse.net)
Photo: Gerode_ / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
