Indian boycotts grow of Turkish coffee, chocolates and fashion聽

A waiter carries two cups of Turkish coffee at a coffee shop in Istanbul on October 19, 2007. (REUTERS/File)
Short Url
  • Distributor body that supplies 13 million mom-and-pop grocery stores announces 鈥渋ndefinite and total boycott鈥� of Turkish goods
  • Indian fashion websites owned by Walmart-backed Flipkart and Reliance have removed numerous Turkish apparel brands

MUMBAI: Small Indian grocery shops and major online fashion retailers are boycotting Turkish products ranging from chocolates, coffee, jams and cosmetics to clothing amid growing anger at Turkiye鈥檚 support for Pakistan in a confrontation with India. 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed public solidarity with Pakistan, another majority-Muslim country, after India conducted military strikes in response to a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Cross-border fighting continued for four days before a ceasefire was declared.,

On Monday, the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), which supplies 13 million mom-and-pop grocery stores, said it was launching an 鈥渋ndefinite and total boycott鈥� of all Turkish-origin goods, which would affect chocolates, wafers, jams, biscuits and skincare products.

Indian fashion websites owned by Walmart-backed Flipkart and billionaire Mukesh Ambani鈥檚 Reliance have removed numerous Turkish apparel brands, according to three sources and a review of their websites

Flipkart鈥檚 fashion website Myntra removed listings of Turkish brands including Trendyol, known for women鈥檚 clothing, street and casual wear brand LC Waikiki and jeans producer Mavi, said one source with direct knowledge.

Myntra removed the brands 鈥渋n the national interest鈥� without Walmart鈥檚 involvement, a second source with direct knowledge said.

Reliance鈥檚 fashion website AJIO also removed Turkish brands, including Trendyol, Koton, LC Waikiki from its app, and many of those listings were shown as out of stock on Monday. A source cited 鈥渘ational sentiments鈥� as a reason.

Flipkart, Reliance Retail and the Turkish brands Trendyol, LC Waikiki, Koton and Mavi did not respond to requests for comment.

India has not ordered companies to boycott Turkiye, and India鈥檚 annual $2.7 billion in goods imports from Turkiye are dominated by mineral fuels and precious metals. 

But a consumer boycott could still be significant. AICPDF said its ban would affect around 20 billion rupees ($234 million) of food products. Apparel imports were worth $81 million last year, according to the Trading Economics reference website.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, one of India鈥檚 biggest apple-growing states, said on Monday he would ask for a ban on apple imports from Turkiye, which were worth around $60 million last year. 

Moreover, last week Flipkart said it was suspending flight, hotel and holiday package bookings to Turkiye 鈥渋n solidarity with India鈥檚 national interest and sovereignty.鈥� 

Indians have been canceling holidays to Turkiye and New Delhi has canceled the security clearance of the Turkish-based aviation ground handling firm Celebi. Reuters reported on Friday that Air India was lobbying Indian officials to disallow rival

IndiGo鈥檚 leasing tie-up with Turkish Airlines, citing business impact as well as security concerns sparked by Ankara鈥檚 support for Pakistan.