Chobani LLC
TypePrivate
IndustryDairy products
FoundedMarch 2005 (2005-03) (as Agro Farma)
South Edmeston, New York, U.S.
FounderHamdi Ulukaya
HeadquartersNorwich, New York, U.S.
Key people
Number of employees
2,000+ (2018)[1]
SubsidiariesLa Colombe Coffee Roasters
Websitewww.chobani.com

Chobani is an American food company specializing in strained yogurt. The company was founded in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya,[2][3] a Turkish Kurd businessman.[4][5][6] Chobani sells thick, Greek yogurt with a higher protein content than traditional yogurt and is one of the main companies to popularize this style of yogurt in the US.[7] The company has also expanded to non-dairy, plant-based products such as dairy-free vegan yogurt and oat milk. Chobani produces a variety of Greek yogurt products, oat drinks, and snacks.[8] Chobani's yogurt's market share in the U.S. rose from less than 1% in 2007 to more than 20% in 2021, and is the top-selling Greek yogurt brand in the United States and operates the largest yogurt facility in the world.[9] In April 2016, Chobani announced it was giving 10 percent of its ownership stake to its employees.[10][11][12]

In December 2023, Chobani entered the cold coffee market through the acquisition of La Colombe Coffee Roasters for $900 million.[13]

Establishment and early years

Chobani was founded in 2005 by the Turkish Kurd and businessman Hamdi Ulukaya. He chose the name Chobani as a variation of the Turkish word çoban, "shepherd".

Chobani was inspired by Ulukaya's childhood spent raising sheep and goats and making cheese with his family.[14] Not impressed by the yogurt options available in the United States, Ulukaya made strained yogurt at his home in Upstate New York. He hired a yogurt master from Turkey, with whom he developed his own recipe.[15] Using different bacterial cultures at differing temperatures and fermentation durations, they tested hundreds of recipes to come up with a yogurt with the desired taste, texture, and natural shelf life.[6] Strained yogurt is thicker, creamier and tangier, with a higher protein content, as the whey is strained out.[16] Ulukaya bought a plant in the town of South Edmeston, New York, that was being closed by Kraft Foods;[17] Ulukaya purchased it with a Small Business Administration Loan.[18] Ulukaya hired several of the former Kraft employees and launched his brand in 2007.[19] In 2009, the chain stores Stop & Shop and ShopRite began carrying Chobani,[20] and by the middle of 2009, Chobani was selling 200,000 cases a week.[6] Later that same year, a major breakthrough came when the warehouse club stores BJ's Wholesale Club and Costco began carrying the brand.[19][18] Ulukaya began adding new product lines to his brand in 2010.[21] By 2010, Chobani realized over $1 billion in annual sales and became the leading seller of Greek yogurt in the U.S.[22][23]

Later history and expansion

In November 2011, Chobani expanded into Victoria, Australia through the purchase of Victorian dairy company Bead Foods.[24] It then invested $30m to expand the facility and began manufacturing from the Dandenong South plant in December 2012.[25] In 2012, the brand opened its second plant in what became the world's largest yogurt facility in Twin Falls, Idaho, with an initial investment of $750 million. The move created approximately 7,000 jobs, and unemployment rates in the region dropped from 6.3% to 2.4%.[26] Chobani also opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe in SoHo, New York City in July 2012.[27][28][29]

Following the success of its product in Australia, in 2014 Chobani expanded its distribution to Asia and Latin America, beginning with Singapore, Malaysia, and Panama. The company announced plans for the Caribbean as well.[30] In April 2014, Chobani reached a deal with private-equity firm TPG for a $750-million investment, which funded the company's expansion and the launch of a new line of products.[31] In 2014 the company launched Chobani Oats, a blend of Greek yogurt, steel-cut oats and fruit; Seasonal varieties, including watermelon and pink grapefruit; Chobani Indulgent, a dessert yogurt; and a 4%-fat plain Greek yogurt.[32] Chobani introduced its products in Mexico in August 2016.[33]

In 2017, Chobani surpassed Yoplait as the No. 2 manufacturer in overall yogurt.[34] The company also announced a $20 million expansion of the Twin Falls plant, with a 70,000 square-foot facility and a new global research and development center.[35] When Chobani was launched, Greek yogurt made up less than 1% of the yogurt market in the U.S. As of 2017, Greek yogurt accounted for 50% of U.S. yogurt sales.[36]

Chobani announced in December 2020 that former finance chief of 8th Avenue Food & Provisions Jody Macedonio would be the company's new CFO.[37]

In September 2022, Chobani withdrew its plans for an initial public offering of more than $10 billion citing current market conditions. It had filed to go public in July 2021.[38][39]

Products

Grocery store shelf with dozens of single servicing yogurt containers.
Containers of Chobani yogurt in a store.

Initial Chobani yogurt flavors included plain, vanilla, strawberry, peach, and blueberry.[40] Later products included a yogurt-based condiment,[41] plant-based beverages with organic oats as well as milk and cream from the company's yogurt-making process,[42] four flavors of iced coffee,[43] a nutritional shakes,[44] and probiotic yogurt and drinks.[45] Restaurants offering Chobani products include Tim Hortons.[46]

Employees

Approximately 30% of Chobani's workforce consists of refugees and immigrants.[47][48] In 2016, following reports on Chobani's practice of employing refugees, the company received calls for boycotts and death threats.[47]

In April 2016, Chobani announced it was giving 10 percent of its ownership stake to its employees.[10][11][12] The company allotted shares to its employees based on tenure, reportedly helping some of the company's longest serving employees become millionaires.[12] In October 2016, the company announced that it was implementing a program to give six weeks of paid parental leave to new parents.[49] In 2021, wages increased for the company's hourly workers, making up 70% of people employed by the company, from $13 to at least $15.[50]

Community involvement and sponsorships

Philanthropy

Since its founding, Chobani has been involved in philanthropic endeavors.[14][51] The company's philanthropy focuses on improving childhood nutrition, strengthening the communities near its plants in New York and Idaho,[52][53][54] and supporting those in need after major disasters in the U.S.[55][56]

In the spring of 2018, CEO Hamdi Ulukaya appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Good Morning America to announce that the company was celebrating its 10th anniversary as a national brand by giving a Chobani yogurt to every person in America.[57]

In November 2018, Chobani announced a new partnership with the national nonprofit Operation Homefront, with the aim of raising $1 million for America's military families for financial assistance and support. Chobani donated $500,000 and the company pledged to match up to $250,000 in additional donations facilitated by a new Chobani product called "Hero Batch" Red, White and Blueberry Greek yogurt, which was designed by military veterans at Chobani.[58]

In May 2019, CEO Ulukaya pledged to pay the student lunch debt for all Warwick school district students in Rhode Island and urged other companies to step up to fight food insecurity across the country.[59]

In October 2019, Chobani launched a limited edition product, "Farmer Batch", with a portion of profits going to the American Farmland Trust (AFT).[60]

Sponsorships

In 2012, Chobani became an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team[61] and premiered their first national commercial during the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.[62]

Chobani Incubator

Hamdi Ulukaya launched the Chobani Food Incubator in 2016 to support entrepreneurs at food and beverage startup companies with a nonequity investment, resources, mentorship and programming.[63][64] In 2018, the company announced the creation of the Chobani Incubator Food Tech Residency.[65] Participants in the incubator program have included Banza, Misfit Juicery,[66] Chloe's Fruit, Pique Tea Crystals,[67] NOKA,[68] MatchaBar, and Ithaca Cold-Craftede.[69]

In November 2019, the Chobani Incubator introduced its new Vets Cohort to help current and former armed service members who are also food entrepreneurs grow their business. The program was formed through a partnership with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.[70]

In 2013, Chobani was ordered to change their yogurt's labeling in England and Wales after a judge ruled that the wording "Greek yoghurt" (rather than Greek-style) misled consumers into thinking the yogurt was made in Greece (yogurt imported from Greece is sold in Britain, and is the only type sold as "Greek").[71][72]

On September 3, 2013, Chobani pulled some of its Greek-style yogurt from supermarket shelves after hearing of "swelling or bloating" in cups. The company said it has investigated and found a type of mold commonly found in dairy that may be to blame.[73] Chobani announced a voluntary recall on September 5 in cooperation with the FDA.[74] On September 9, 2013, the FDA reported at least 89 people reported becoming sick after eating the yogurt.[75]

References

  1. ↑ Gelles, David (June 28, 2018). "Chobani, the Greek Yogurt Maker, Reclaims Control of Its Finances". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ↑ "Cultural revolution: The Greek-yogurt phenomenon in America left big food firms feeling sour. They are trying to get better at innovation". The Economist. 2013-08-31. Archived from the original on 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  3. ↑ Pendleton, Devon (2012-09-14). "Hidden Chobani Billionaire Emerges as Greek Yogurt Soars". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  4. ↑ "Hamdi Ulukaya". Forbes.
  5. ↑ Abdullahoğlu, Eren (9 April 2014). "Obama honors Turkish entrepreneur Hamdi Ulukaya". Daily Sabah. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2021. I had the happiest day of my life to be here as a Turkish businessman.
  6. 1 2 3 Gruley, B (January 31, 2013). "At Chobani, the Turkish King of Greek Yogurt". BusinessWeek.
  7. ↑ Gasparro, Annie; Josephs, Leslie (19 December 2013). "Whole Foods To Stop Selling Chobani. same sex, lesbian yogurt commercial has led to boycott attempt by several family advocacy organizations Yogurt". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Beth Kowitt (2019-11-18). "Chobani Rolls Out Oat Milk, Oat Yogurt, and Dairy Creamers". Fortune. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  9. ↑ Cheng, Michelle (19 November 2021). "How Chobani swallowed 20% of the US yogurt market". Quartz. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  10. 1 2 "Chobani CEO Surprises Employees With Ownership Stake in the Company". ABC News. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  11. 1 2 "Chobani says it's giving 2,000 employees shares in privately held company". Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  12. 1 2 3 Stephanie Strom (April 27, 2017). "At Chobani, Now It's Not Just the Yogurt That's Rich". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  13. ↑ Akram, Wasim (15 December 2023). "Chobani Acquired Coffee Company La Colombe For $900 Million". ibmot. ibmot. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  14. 1 2 Brunner, Rob (2017-03-20). "How Chobani's Hamdi Ulukaya Is Winning America's Culture War". Fast Company. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  15. ↑ Fifield, A (April 9, 2013). "Founder follows his gut instincts". Financial Times.
  16. ↑ Pamela Vachon (2019-05-08). "What Is the Difference Between Yogurt and Greek Yogurt?". Chowhound. Archived from the original on 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  17. ↑ Don Cazentre (2011-07-03). "How rural Chenango County became Greek yogurt capital: The story behind Chobani yogurt". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  18. 1 2 Megan Durisin (2013-05-03). "Chobani CEO: Our Success Has Nothing To Do With Yogurt". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  19. 1 2 Prasso, Sheridan (November 30, 2011). "Chobani: The unlikely king of yogurt". Fortune. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  20. ↑ Tuder, S (January 21, 2014). "Charting Greek Yogurt's Amazing Rise". ABC News.
  21. ↑ "Chobani Timeline" (PDF). Chobani. April 2013.
  22. ↑ E.J. Schultz (2012-06-06). "Who's Winning the Greek-Yogurt 'Revolution'?". AdAge. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  23. ↑ Mamta Badkar (2011-10-08). "Trendy Greek Yogurt Chobani Is Officially The Top Selling Brand In America". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  24. ↑ Ovide, Shira (2011-06-30). "Greek Yogurt Brand Chobani Makes a Deal". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  25. ↑ Dowie C, Preece L (2012-11-09). "Chobani yogurt makes move in Oz". The Australian Dairy Farmer. Archived from the original on 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  26. ↑ Trevor Hughes (2017-11-09). "Yogurt maker Chobani expanding in tiny town of Twin Falls, Idaho". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  27. ↑ "Greek Yogurt Giant Chobani Is Opening Its First Shop In New York City". Business Insider. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  28. ↑ "Chobani Yogurt Bar Makes Big Apple Debut". The Gourmet Retailer. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 14 March 2013.
  29. ↑ "Nothing But Good: Chobani Founder Hamdi Ulukaya Named Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Overall Award Winner" (Press release). Ernst & Young. November 18, 2012.
  30. ↑ Cazentre, D (April 16, 2014). "Chobani goes global: CNY-based yogurt company to sell in Asia, Latin America". The Post-Standard.
  31. ↑ Spector M, Gasparro A (April 23, 2014). "Chobani Reaches Deal for $750 Million Investment From TPG". Wall Street Journal.
  32. ↑ Watson E (April 18, 2004). "Chobani takes on oatmeal, ice cream and snacks with new summer launches". Food Navigator USA.
  33. ↑ "Llega a México Chobani, la marca #1 de yogurt estilo griego en los Estados Unidos". PR Newswire (Press release). Mexico. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  34. ↑ Giammona, Craig (9 March 2017). "Why Big Brands Couldn't Stop Chobani From Winning the Yogurt War". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "Chobani Breaks Ground On Twin Falls, Idaho Expansion". Business Facilities - Area Economic Development, Site Selection & Workforce Solutions. 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  36. ↑ John Kell (2017-05-22). "General Mills Loses the Yogurt Wars". Fortune. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  37. ↑ Trentmann, Nina (2020-12-23). "Yogurt Maker Chobani Recruits New CFO as It Continues to Expand". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  38. ↑ Lucas, Amelia. "Chobani withdraws IPO plans after yogurt maker filed in November to go public". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  39. ↑ "Yogurt maker Chobani confidentially files for U.S. IPO, valuation may exceed $10 billion". CNBC. 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  40. ↑ Mead R (November 4, 2013). "Just Add Sugar: How an immigrant from Turkey turned Greek yogurt into an American snack food". The New Yorker.
  41. ↑ Siegner, Cathy (10 August 2018). "Chobani enters the condiment market". Food Dive. Industry Dive. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  42. ↑ Elaine Watson (2019-11-18). "Chobani debuts oat drinks, yogurts, seeks to disrupt dairy creamer category". foodnavigator-usa.com. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  43. ↑ Wiener-Bronner, Danielle (14 January 2021). "Chobani reinvented yogurt. Its next target is coffee". CNN. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  44. ↑ "Chobani". www.chobani.com. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  45. ↑ Doering, Christopher (10 Dec 2020). "Chobani doubles down on probiotics as consumers seek immunity-boosting products". Food Dive. Archived from the original on 2020-12-10. Retrieved 28 Dec 2021.
  46. ↑ "Canadian Coffee Chain Tim Hortons Adds Chobani Oat Milk to 4,000 Locations". Vegconomist. 8 December 2021.
  47. 1 2 Gelles, David (2016-10-31). "For Helping Immigrants, Chobani's Founder Draws Threats". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  48. ↑ Cristina Alesci (30 September 2018). "US yogurt billionaire's solution to immigration: 'Humanity first'". CNN. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  49. ↑ Emma Margolin (2016-10-06). "Chobani to offer new moms and dads 6 weeks off at full pay". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  50. ↑ Trentmann, Nina (2020-12-23). "Yogurt Maker Chobani Recruits New CFO as It Continues to Expand". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  51. ↑ "Impact | Giving Back | Chobani®". www.chobani.com. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
  52. ↑ Kennison, Heather. "Chobani Foundation is offering $100K in grants for 'big ideas' in Magic Valley". Twin Falls Times-News. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  53. ↑ Rick Moriarty (2018-05-15). "Chobani to promote 'economic opportunity' with $100K annual Central NY grant fund". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  54. ↑ Danielle Holly (8 October 2018). "Chobani Foundation Announces New Aspect to Its CSR". nonprofitquarterly.org. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  55. ↑ Rick Moriarty (2017-08-31). "Chobani donates yogurt to Hurricane Harvey flood victims". NewYorkUpstate.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  56. ↑ Rick Moriarty (2017-11-08). "Chobani to send powdered milk to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands". NewYorkUpstate.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  57. ↑ "Video: Chobani CEO discusses the company's campaign with No Kid Hungry on 'GMA'". ABC News. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  58. ↑ Michael Dykes (22 May 2019). "IDFA Member Chobani Gets Creative to Support Military Families". www.idfa.org. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
  59. ↑ Julia Jacobo (2019-05-10). "Chobani pays lunch money debt after school district's policy generates controversy". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
  60. ↑ "Latest Chobani flavor will benefit American Farmland Trust". dairyreporter.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  61. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (14 June 2012). "Anything-but-Ordinary Mom Pitches for Chobani Yogurt". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  62. ↑ Bautista, Camille (27 July 2012). "Chobani's first national TV ad to run during Olympic opening ceremonies". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  63. ↑ Elizabeth Segran (2016-09-20). "Chobani launches a delicious food incubator". Fast Company. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  64. ↑ Crowley, Chris. "A New Incubator Program Is Launching to Help Find the Next Great Food Company". Grub Street. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  65. ↑ Elizabeth Crawford (13 June 2018). "Chobani's Food Tech Residency tackles supply chain challenges to deliver better food to more people". foodnavigator-usa.com. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  66. ↑ Elaine Watson (20 September 2016). "Chobani CEO unveils 2016-17 incubator class: 'I don't think there's ever been a better time to be a food start up'". dairyreporter.com. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  67. ↑ Rebekah Schouten (26 September 2017). "Chobani chooses seven start-ups for incubator program". Food Business News. Sosland. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  68. ↑ Rebekah Schouten (9 March 2018). "Chobani selects start-ups for third incubator class". Food Business News. Sosland. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  69. ↑ Stych, Anne (18 September 2018). "Chobani announces food incubator participants". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  70. ↑ Jennifer Marston (2019-11-08). "Chobani Creates a Food Incubator Cohort for U.S. Veterans". The Spoon. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  71. ↑ Andrew Trotman (28 March 2013). "Chobani misled UK shoppers into thinking yoghurt was made in Greece: The US maker of Chobani yoghurt has been ordered to change the product's labelling in England and Wales after a judge ruled it was misleading shoppers". The Telegraph.
  72. ↑ Julia Glotz (28 March 2013). "Fage scores victory against Chobani in Greek yoghurt case". The Grocer.
  73. ↑ "Chobani Pulls 'Fizzy,' 'Swelling' Yogurt Off Shelves". Huffington Post. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  74. ↑ Choi, Candice (5 September 2013). "Chobani recalls some Greek yogurt cups". USA Today. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  75. ↑ "Chobani Yogurt Linked to 89 Reports of Illness". ABC News. Archived from the original on 12 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
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