Meet the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur
Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder, president and CEO of Chobani, based in the United States, was named the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 at an awards ceremony held Friday in Monte Carlo’s Salle des Etoiles.
Hamdi was picked from among the 49 country finalists vying for the title across 47 countries, each of whom had already been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in their home countries.
Hamdi Ulukaya said, “I’m delighted and honored to receive this award and I would like to dedicate this to our fans, employees, local communities and health professional friends. Without them, none of our successes would have been possible.”
Turkish-born Hamdi Ulukaya founded Chobani in upstate New York in 2005 and launched Chobani Greek Yogurt two years later.
Less than six years after launch it is stated to be the best-selling yogurt brand in the US with annual sales approaching US$1bn.
According to Ernst & Young, Chobani has 3,000 employees and operates the largest yogurt factory in the world selling its products to Australia and the UK as well as the US.
Jim Turley, global chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, said, “Over the past 26 years, entrepreneurs have done more than any other group to stimulate innovation, job creation and prosperity during both periods of growth and in more challenging economic conditions. Hamdi epitomizes the vision and determination that set entrepreneurs apart and is very worthy of the title Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013.”
