# Chobani: Hamdi Ulukaya

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-11-14
- Length: 1h 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya

## Summary

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani, explains how he bought an abandoned yogurt factory for $700,000 in 2005 and scaled it into a dominant US yogurt brand by focusing on Greek-style yogurt, which he strained using a centrifuge separator. Ulukaya details the operational challenges of rapid growth, including a critical mold recall in 2013 that nearly caused bankruptcy and forced him to reject a private equity deal to save the company. He discusses the strategic decision to build a second factory in Idaho to de-risk production and the eventual hiring of a professional CEO to manage the company's transition from a garage startup to a large enterprise.

## Chapters

- [0:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=23) Introduction: Hamdi Ulukaya and Chobani's Origin
- [5:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=307) Early Life in Turkey and Immigration to the US
- [22:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=1341) Starting Euphrates Cheese and Learning the Business
- [38:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=2307) Buying the Abandoned Yogurt Factory for $700,000
- [58:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=3499) First Sales, ShopRite Listing, and Rapid Growth
- [1:18:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=4680) The 2013 Mold Recall and Near Bankruptcy
- [1:24:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-14-chobani-hamdi-ulukaya#t=5098) Hiring a Professional CEO and Scaling to Enterprise

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Chobani (company)
- Euphrates (company)
- ShopRite (company)
- Craft (company)
- Keybank (company)
- USDA (other)
- SBA (other)
- Idaho (other)
- TPG (company)
- Kevin Burns (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Ehime Eigbe-Akindele of Sweet Kiwi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-07-founder-feature-ehime-eigbe-akindele-of-sweet-kiwi) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Charlie Gentry of TruJoy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-10-25-founder-feature-charlie-gentry-of-trujoy) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Bringing Froyo Back, Building in Public, and Why Pressure is a Privilege - Ashley Whalen of Chara](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-29-founder-feature-bringing-froyo-back-building-in-public-and-why-pressure-is-a-pri) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#95 GT Dave - Founder & CEO of GT’s Living Foods: 25+ years of building the kombucha industry one batch at a time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-06-20-95-gt-dave-founder-ceo-of-gts-living-foods-25-years-of-building-the-kombucha-ind) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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