Turkish immigrant dips into yogurt to find the American dream

It only took Turkish immigrant Hamdi Ulukaya's yogurt, Chobani, seven years to compete with some of the biggest brands in the United States such as Danone and Yoplait.

When Ulukaya arrived in the US, he had $3,000 in his pocket. He was born into a nomadic family in the town of Ilic sometime in late October 1972. He landed in New York in 1994 to study English, but he also sensed an opportunity.

Like many immigrants, he was homesick for his country but took solace in a student job at a farm in a yogurt-producing region of New York state, and the rest, of course, is history.

The budding entrepreneur signed up for a business program at the University of Albany in New York state.

Self-made man

During a visit to the United States, his father complained about the quality of feta - a traditional soft, Greek cheese - and suggested his son make his own.

Ulukaya founded Euphrates, a feta company that supplied local restaurants and retailers.

Then in 2004, he came across an advertisement for a dairy specializing in fresh products for $700,000.

Thanks to $1 million provided in large part by a small-business loan program, Ulukaya became the owner in August 2005.

And after 18 months of testing, his recipe - which he packaged in larger containers than competitors - was ready.

"It was all about the package. It will catch your eye," he said. "But it's the yogurt that will close the deal."

In October 2007 Chobani - named after the Turkish word for shepherd - was officially born.

It contained no fat, twice the protein of its peers and no artificial flavors.

At the time, Danone and Yoplait accounted for 71 percent of the US yogurt market, while Greek yogurt accounted for only 2 percent.

In 2009, when the ShopRite grocery chain began selling Chobani, other large retailers such as Trader Joe's and Costco jumped on board.

Last year, Chobani sales exceeded $1 billion, and they are estimated at $1.5 billion this year.

Greek yogurt now accounts for 40 percent of the $8 billion US yogurt industry and Chobani, which employs 2,000 people, boasts a 40 percent market share.

Ulukaya lives in the town of New Berlin, New York, and seems unfazed by his newfound wealth.

He calls himself single rather than divorced. His ex-wife, who is suing him, is asking for $1 billion, which she says accounts for almost a third of the company that she claims she helped finance.

(China Daily 12/09/2014 page10)