A discarded flier found in a pile of junk mail in 2005 prompted Hamdi Ulukaya to purchase a defunct Kraft Foods yogurt factory in South Edmeston, New York. This acquisition served as the foundation for Chobani, a venture that disrupted the American dairy market by introducing strained, preservative-free yogurt on a mass commercial scale.
Early Life and Migration
Born in 1972 in İliç, Turkey, Ulukaya grew up in a Kurdish family that practiced semi-nomadic dairy farming near the Euphrates River. He studied political science at Ankara University, where his involvement in the Kurdish-rights movement and local publishing brought him into conflict with state authorities. In 1994, he moved to the United States to study English at Adelphi University before transferring to the University at Albany.
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Take the IQ test →Establishing a Foothold
Ulukaya entered the food industry by producing feta cheese. Acting on his father's recommendation to replicate the quality of domestic Turkish imports, he founded Euphrates in 2002 in Johnstown, New York. While the business was initially modest and faced significant operational challenges, the experience provided the foundational knowledge required for his subsequent expansion into the mainstream yogurt sector.
Scaling Chobani
Developing the Chobani recipe took nearly two years of collaboration with Turkish yogurt expert Mustafa Dogan. Lacking traditional advertising capital, Ulukaya focused on packaging, retail partnerships, and direct consumer engagement through social media and a mobile sampling truck. By 2012, Chobani achieved over $1 billion in annual sales and opened a $450 million production facility in Twin Falls, Idaho. The company eventually expanded its footprint into Australia, Mexico, China, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Diversification and Corporate Philosophy
Beyond dairy, Ulukaya expanded his business portfolio by becoming the majority investor in La Colombe Coffee Roasters in 2015. In 2024, he announced plans to restart operations at the historic Anchor Brewing after acquiring the company in 2023. His management style emphasizes higher employee wages and corporate responsibility, including a 2016 initiative that distributed 10% of Chobani's shares to his workforce.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, İliç, Turkey
- Primary Enterprise: Chobani
- Education: Ankara University, University at Albany
- Net Worth: $13.7B (April 2026)
- Notable Recognition: Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year (2013)
- Additional Investments: La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Anchor Brewing
- Language Proficiency: Turkish, English
Questions readers ask
What inspired the name Chobani?
The name is a variation of çoban, the Turkish word for shepherd.
What was the significance of the 2012 Idaho facility?
The Twin Falls plant represented a $450 million investment and became the world's largest yogurt factory.
Achievements
- Holdings: Chobani and Tent Foundation
- Affiliated with Chobani
- Educated at State University of New York at Albany and Ankara University
