Chobani Inc. Named Food Processing's 2012 Processor of the Year
An American-style success story, Turkish immigrant Hamdi Ulukaya wanted yogurt like he had back home, so he made some - like a billion dollars' worth of it.
ITASCA, Ill., Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After a year in which Greek yogurt became the hottest-growth food category in the United States, Food Processing magazine names Chobani Inc. its 2012 Processor of the Year. In just five years, Chobani went from zero to $1 billion in sales and became the biggest-selling single brand in the overall yogurt category.
It's difficult deciding which Chobani story to tell first. The Horatio Alger story of a Turkish immigrant who bought a shuttered yogurt plant and became a successful businessman. The creation of a new and intensely hot food category. How a startup based on a single product grew into a billion-dollar company.
Food Processing tells the story of Chobani in a three-part series:
- Part 1 talks to Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish immigrant and the founder of the company, who enjoyed everything he found in America except its yogurt. He recounts the company history and how the company grew into the category leader it is. (http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2012/processor-of-the-year.html)
- Part 2 focuses on the unconventional product development process – they call it their Innovation Team. (http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2012/chobani-research-and-development.html)
- Part 3 talks about Chobani as a manufacturer, starting out in a 111-year-old, winding-down Kraft Breyers plant and ending with the December 2012 opening of what will be the world's biggest yogurt plant, in Twin Falls, Idaho. (http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2012/chobani-plant-operations.html)
To be named a Processor of the Year, a food manufacturer should have sound financial performance (including expanding sales and profitability), innovative product development, leading manufacturing technology, managerial excellence, general industry leadership and service.
To learn more about Chobani and the Processor of the Year award, read the full story on FoodProcessing.com (http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2012/processor-of-the-year.html)
About Food Processing
Food Processing is the only B2B media franchise covering all job functions and purchasing types within the food and beverage industry. The Food Processing franchise explores the latest in ideation, research and development, processing technologies and packaging, and marketing; plus, the vital synergies that exist between and among job functions.
Contact Information:
Dave Fusaro
630-625-1136
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SOURCE Food Processing
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