Early Life
Hamdi Ulukaya was born on October 26, 1972, to a Kurdish dairy-farming family in İliç, Erzincan, Turkey. Growing up, he helped his family with their dairy farm, where they produced cheese and yogurt. In 1994, he moved to the United States to study English and enrolled in business courses at the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Rise to Success
Ulukaya's entrepreneurial journey began with a feta cheese business in 2002, importing cheese from Turkey. However, his major breakthrough came in 2005 when he purchased a defunct yogurt factory in South Edmeston, New York. Inspired by the yogurt he grew up with, he spent 18 months developing a unique recipe for strained Greek yogurt. Chobani was launched in 2007 and quickly gained popularity. The company achieved over $1 billion in annual sales in less than five years, becoming a leading yogurt brand in the U.S..
Key Business Strategies
Ulukaya focused on making high-quality, accessible food and built a brand on the principle of doing good. He prioritized employee well-being, offering competitive wages, benefits, and profit-sharing. Ulukaya also made hiring refugees a core part of his business strategy, recognizing their potential and creating a diverse workforce.
Philanthropy
Ulukaya is deeply committed to philanthropy, donating 10% of Chobani's net profits to charitable causes. He established the Chobani Foundation to manage this philanthropy. He also founded the Tent Partnership for Refugees, which mobilizes businesses to support refugees. Ulukaya has pledged the majority of his personal wealth to help refugees.