Istanbul, November 13, 2026 — London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited our Hafız Mustafa 1864 flagship store in Sultanahmet during his trip to Istanbul. Following the visit, Khan shared photographs on social media and praised our investments in London, particularly our Knightsbridge store and Enfield production facility, for their contribution to employment and economic growth in the British capital.
London Deputy Mayor Mete Çoban accompanied Khan during the visit. Our board members Emre Ongurlar, Eren Ongurlar, and Timurhan Ongurlar welcomed the delegation to Sultanahmet, where we had the pleasure of introducing our guests to traditional Turkish desserts and discussing our activities in London.
The mayor sampled our baklava and künefe and expressed his appreciation for the desserts.
For our Hafız Mustafa family, welcoming the Mayor of London to our Istanbul home was a very happy moment, especially after his earlier visit to our London branch.
Sadiq Khan Praises Our Knightsbridge Store and Enfield Production Facility
Following his visit to Sultanahmet, Khan shared photographs from our store on his X account and spoke warmly about Hafız Mustafa's activities in London.
His message drew particular attention to the economic relationship between Istanbul and London.
“It was lovely to pay a special visit to Hafız Mustafa’s flagship store in Istanbul today,” Khan wrote, referring to our Knightsbridge store and Enfield production facility as examples of how relations between the two cities support jobs, growth, prosperity, and dessert lovers.
We were particularly happy to see the mayor acknowledge our production facility in Enfield.
Opening a store abroad is one part of an international investment. Establishing a production facility, developing local employment, and maintaining our original recipes in another country requires considerable preparation and investment.
From the start, our London operations were set up with these priorities in mind.
Khan's comments recognized the work behind our British operations and the economic contribution Turkish businesses can make to London.
A Warm Welcome at Our Sultanahmet Flagship
Our Sultanahmet team welcomed the mayor and his delegation with traditional Turkish hospitality.
During the visit, Khan sampled our baklava and künefe and learned about our confectionery traditions.
We were very pleased to hear his appreciation for the desserts.
Sultanahmet is a particularly meaningful address for us. Visitors from many countries come to this historic district to discover Istanbul's architecture, history, and culinary traditions.
Hafız Mustafa has been part of Istanbul's confectionery culture since 1864, and sharing our recipes with international visitors remains one of our greatest pleasures.
The meeting was an opportunity to introduce the mayor to the Istanbul origins of the desserts we now prepare for our guests in London.
Istanbul and London Share a Growing Commercial Relationship
Mayor Khan's visit took place during his Türkiye program, which included activities connected with COP31.
The comments he made about Hafız Mustafa brought focus to the trade relationship between Istanbul and London and the influence of international businesses in both locations.
Our own relationship with London has developed considerably since the Knightsbridge opening.
Local production allows us to work directly with British employees, suppliers, and business partners. Our retail activities introduce traditional Turkish desserts to British residents and international visitors.
The mayor's recognition of those activities was particularly meaningful to us.
We have always believed international growth should create genuine economic value in the countries where we operate.
Our investments in London follow this principle, and we are grateful for the encouragement expressed during the mayor's visit.
A Second Meeting With the Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan had previously visited our Hafız Mustafa branch in London.
His visit to Sultanahmet gave us the pleasure of welcoming him in Istanbul as well.
Our relationship with London is especially meaningful considering Hafız Mustafa's history. Founded in 1864 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, our confectionery house has witnessed 162 years of Istanbul's history.
Our Bahçekapı roots are still at the heart of who we are.
London now holds an important place in our international activities, alongside our operations in Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.
Having the opportunity to welcome the Mayor of London in our home city and hear his appreciation for our British investments meant a great deal to us.
Hafız Mustafa 1864 Thanks Sadiq Khan for His Visit
We sincerely thank Mayor Sadiq Khan, Deputy Mayor Mete Çoban, and the accompanying delegation for visiting our Sultanahmet flagship.
We are grateful for the mayor's kind words about our Knightsbridge store and Enfield production facility and for recognizing their contribution to London.
Our history began in Istanbul in 1864. Today, we continue preparing our traditional Turkish desserts for guests in Istanbul, London, Dubai, and other destinations.
We look forward to continuing our work in Britain, contributing to the local economy, and sharing our Turkish confectionery heritage with our guests.
It was a genuine pleasure to welcome Mayor Sadiq Khan to Hafız Mustafa 1864 in Istanbul.
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