Hacı Bekir Efendi

Bekir Efendi, later known as Hacı Bekir, was an Ottoman confectioner from Araç in Kastamonu. He moved to Constantinople and in 1777 opened a small sweet shop at Bahçekapı, which became known for lokum, or Turkish delight, and akide candies.

After making the pilgrimage to Mecca between 1817 and 1820 he was known as Hacı Bekir. His shop supplied the Ottoman palace, earning him the title of chief confectioner, şekercibaşı, and both the business and the title passed to his son and grandson.