The Chobani Story
Our journey is a special one
The Chobani Story
Our journey is a special one
Business can be a force for good
That’s what our founder and global CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya, has always believed. That a company can strengthen communities and change lives for the better. It’s what inspired him to take out a loan in 2005, buy an old yogurt plant in upstate New York, and bring together a passionate team to create the authentic, wholesome yogurt he remembered from his childhood.
He called it Chobani.
A name inspired by the Turkish word for ‘shepherd’—symbolising hard work, care, and craftsmanship. That same philosophy shaped our approach to making yogurt: Delicious, Nutritious, Natural, and Accessible (DNNA), the values we still stand by today.
From good food to real change
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As Chobani quickly became the #1 yogurt brand in the US, it was time to expand globally. Hamdi saw something special in Australia—world-class dairy, a love for great food, and farmers dedicated to quality. From day one, we set out to do more than make yogurt—we aimed to make a difference.
2011
Chobani arrives in Australia. Hamdi acquires Bead Foods, makers of the beloved Gippsland Dairy™ yogurt, drawn to their craftsmanship. The first pot of Chobani yogurt is sold.
2012
Our partnership with Foodbank begins. United by a mission to fight food insecurity, we start donating fresh yogurt to those in need. To date, we’ve helped provide over 3 million meals.
2013
We launch Pouches, bringing DNNA to a convenient, on-the-go format for kids and adults alike. We also begin supporting Dandenong South Primary School’s Breakfast Club, ensuring no child starts the day hungry.
2017
Chobani Flip® lands in Australia! A first-of-its-kind yogurt snack, pairing our Greek Yogurt with crave-worthy mix-ins. Soon after, Chobani becomes Australia’s #1 yogurt brand.
2018
We introduce Chobani® fit®, crafted for Aussies looking for a high-protein yogurt.
2021
Our innovation extends to four-legged friends with Daily Dollop®, a gentle, gut-friendly dog-urt.
2022
We grow our Dandenong South facility, bringing all our teams under one roof. More than just new offices and warehouses—it’s our forever home.
We also reimagine food’s impact with Fruit for Good, a category-first yogurt with 100% of profits donated to Foodbank—providing over 500,000 meals to those in need.
We wrap up the year by launching Chobani in New Zealand.
2023
We team up with Eat Up, adding our Greek Yogurt Pouches to their free lunch program for hungry school kids. A natural partnership from day one.
We also launch No Added Sugar, a subtly sweet, high-protein yogurt with one billion probiotics—proving healthy can still be delicious.
2024
Through our Foodbank SKU and SecondBite campaigns, we help provide a combined 3.68 million meals—further proving food can be a force for good.
We also launch Gippsland Dairy Crafted—a new take on our signature slow-crafted yogurt, elevating the artistry behind every spoonful and blurring the line between yogurt and dessert.
