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U.S.-based strained yogurt brand Chobani’s Turkish-born founder, Hamdi Ulukaya, reiterated his plans to enter the Turkish market soon, adding that he has made a definitive decision to invest in the country.
"I’ve definitely made up my mind now," Ulukaya told Forbes Türkiye in an exclusive interview, signaling that Türkiye could have a share in Chobani’s sales as the company targets more than $1 billion in revenue by 2030.
Ulukaya, who also leads the U.S.-Türkiye Business Council (TAIK), has become increasingly active in strengthening economic ties between the two countries, while his visits to Istanbul have grown more frequent in recent years.
Chobani's ties to Türkiye became more prominent after the company signed a major sponsorship agreement with Istanbul-based Fenerbahce in July 2025.
The 5+5-year deal covers naming rights to the club's stadium, which was renamed Chobani Stadium Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Sports Complex. A separate 2+3-year agreement makes Chobani the front-of-shirt sponsor for Fenerbahce's European matches.
The overall sponsorship package has been projected to reach at least $139.5 billion over its full term.
At the signing ceremony, Ulukaya said Chobani would come to Türkiye and described Fenerbahce as the starting point for the company's plans.
He later indicated that Chobani could enter the Turkish market by establishing its own operation or through a partnership, saying that investing in Türkiye would be significant both for the company and because it is his homeland.
Founded in 2005, Chobani has grown into one of the leading yogurt brands in the U.S., holding a roughly 20% share of the total yogurt market, according to company data. The company has since expanded into oat milk, creamers and coffee, including through its 2023 acquisition of La Colombe.
In 2025, Chobani also acquired Daily Harvest, expanding further into ready-to-make meals. Chobani manufactures products in New York, Idaho, Michigan and Australia, with its products sold across North America, Australia and other select markets.
The company generated $3.8 billion in revenue, up 29% from a year earlier, and is expected to extend that performance with $4.6 billion in revenue forecast by the end of 2026, representing a 20% increase.
The company’s recent investments include a $500 million expansion of its Twin Falls, Idaho, plant and a $1.2 billion new facility in Rome, New York, which is expected to open in 2027.
Most recently, Chobani announced plans to invest approximately $1.2 billion to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing and storage facility spanning about 140,000 square meters in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Hamdi Ulukaya, the Turkish-born founder of Chobani, is currently the wealthiest Turkish citizen, with an estimated net worth of $11.8 billion, according to Forbes, after a $650 million funding round valued his company at about $20 billion in 2025.
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