Chobani Founder Hamdi Ulukaya on the Journey from Closed Factory to Yogurt Powerhouse

Harvard Business Review · Oct 16, 2026 · 47m

Chobani Founder Hamdi Ulukaya on the Journey from Abandoned Factory to Yogurt Powerhouse

21 Apr 2022

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Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya has a tale that practically defines the American Dream. Ulukaya, a Kurd, was born in eastern Turkey, where his family owned a small dairy farm. He eventually came to the U.S., and in 2005 came across an abandoned yogurt factory for sale in upstate New York. Ulukaya bought it and hired a small team and to make yogurt that was less sugary and less watery than what was generally produced in the U.S. The product was called Chobani, and it was a hit. Today…