Chobani: Hamdi Ulukaya (2022)

In this episode of How I Built This, Guy Raz interviews Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder of Chobani, about his journey from a rural village in Turkey to building the largest yogurt brand in America. Ulukaya recounts his early life, his arrival in the U.S. with little English and money, and his initial foray into the feta cheese business. The story details his discovery of an abandoned yogurt factory, his decision to pivot to Greek yogurt, and the challenges he faced in scaling the business, including near bankruptcy and competition from larger companies. Ulukaya emphasizes his commitment to quality, his employees, and his vision of Chobani as a socially responsible company. The episode concludes with a brief update on Chobani's recent acquisitions and expansion plans.