Balsu Gıda
Türkiye, parent company and processing.
Balsu Industries Chile carries Balsu’s hazelnut heritage to one of the southern hemisphere’s most promising origins, Maule.
Balsu has worked with hazelnuts for decades, sourcing, processing, and supplying international markets across four continents.
That heritage was built on a simple idea: handle the crop with discipline, understand the buyer’s specification, and earn the grower’s trust. Balsu Industries Chile applies the same principles in a new landscape.
We were incorporated in Chile in 2019 and chose Maule, in the Región del Maule, as our operational base, close to the orchards, the people, and the harvest we serve.
Hazelnut orchards in Chile expanded with encouragement from the global chocolate and confectionery sector, drawing on established agricultural models before adapting to Chilean conditions.
Today Chile is becoming a significant hazelnut origin in the southern hemisphere, helped by a Mediterranean climate, generally lower pest pressure, available agricultural land, and a harvest that arrives counter-seasonally to Europe.
Historically, much of Chile’s crop has left the country in-shell, with value-added processing performed elsewhere. We help bring more of that capability closer to the origin, professionally, and at scale.
Balsu Industries Chile is part of Balsu, a hazelnut group with roots in Türkiye since 1979 and operations across four continents, serving many of the world’s leading chocolate and confectionery manufacturers.
Türkiye, parent company and processing.
Offices in Munich, Portland and Hong Kong.
Agricultural operations in Chile.
Our processing operation in Maule.
The Zapsu family starts importing Turkish hazelnuts to Europe.
The group is founded in Türkiye and grows into a global hazelnut house.
A legally established Chilean company, based in Maule.
Industrial cracking and sizing capacity comes online.
Roasting, paste and granulation lines, planned to follow.
A reliable, traceable origin connected to international markets.
“Chile is not just a new origin. It is a long-term commitment.”
Read the leadership perspective on why we are building in Chile, and what we hope to create for growers and buyers alike.
Read the Founder’s Letter