Masters of Scale Chobani's secret to scale: Tap into community, w/founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya
Apr 5, 2022
Hamdi Ulukaya, the Founder and CEO of Chobani, champions community-centered business practices. He discusses how his experience growing up in a Kurdish family taught him the importance of social responsibility. By reviving a local dairy plant, he created jobs and embraced refugee integration within his workforce. He reveals the innovative 'Lobatical' program, which rewards employee loyalty with additional paid time off. Ulukaya emphasizes that scaling a business effectively stems from fostering a sense of shared ownership and community engagement.
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Chobani's Origin
- Hamdi Ulukaya stumbled upon a closed Kraft yogurt plant through junk mail.
- This accidental discovery led to the creation of Chobani.
Market Gap
- Hamdi Ulukaya noticed a lack of simple, unsweetened yogurt in upstate New York.
- This gap in the market inspired him to start making Greek yogurt.
Community Impact
- The closure of the Kraft plant devastated the town of South Edmeston.
- Hamdi Ulukaya's purchase offered a glimmer of hope, though initially met with skepticism.