Contented Family Business: The Case of ‘Soaked Meatball’ in Turkey

The case of “soaked meatball” (Islama Köfte) is selected to represent the unique model of small business management focusing on the ‘contented business model’ where instead of growth and expansion, preservation of quality and values guide the business strategy. The dynamics and driving factors of small family businesses imbued with local, cultural characteristics are presented from oral history accounts obtained from conversations with early founders who are still alive and present owners. It has been revealed that these family businesses, which have been providing region-specific services for years and preferring not to grow, have followed specific business strategies. Contrary to the general belief that business nature is expansion, family firms in this study prefer not growth and contented with their small business from generation to generation. Keywords: Family business, local food, non-growth strategy, contended family business.