06.09.2026 18:00
Businessman Hamdi Ulukaya, who turned his yogurt brand Chobani, founded in the USA, into a multi-billion-dollar food giant, has now turned his focus to Türkiye. Ulukaya, who is Türkiye's richest person with a fortune of $11.3 billion according to Forbes data, announced that he has finalized his decision to invest in Türkiye, while the likelihood of the world-famous Chobani brand entering the Turkish market has increased.
Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, who is the richest Turk in the world with a fortune of $11.3 billion according to Forbes, has announced his decision to invest in Turkey. Preparing to bring his yogurt brand, which has achieved great success in the US, to the Turkish market, Ulukaya answered the question "Are you considering investing in Turkey?" with "Yes... I have now made my decision definitively."
"IN THE LONG TERM, TURKEY IS THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT"
Ulukaya, speaking to Nilgün Balcı Çavdar from Forbes Türkiye, announced that he has made his decision regarding investment in Turkey. When reminded that despite his visits to Istanbul becoming more frequent, he has not made any investment in Turkey to date, Ulukaya said, "I make decisions quickly, but I think long-term. In the long term, after the US, Turkey is the smartest investment."
However, it is not yet clear whether Chobani will establish a direct production facility in Turkey or partner with a local company.
CHOBANI PREPARES TO ENTER THE TURKISH MARKET
Following Ulukaya's messages about investing in Turkey, all eyes have turned to Chobani's roadmap in Turkey. Ulukaya had previously announced that Chobani would come to Turkey.
Speaking at the promotion of the sponsorship agreement signed with Fenerbahçe in 2025, Ulukaya said, "There could be no better time to invest in Turkey" and stated that Chobani would enter Turkey.
MADE ITS NAME KNOWN IN TURKEY WITH THE FENERBAHÇE AGREEMENT
Hamdi Ulukaya's visibility in Turkey increased further with the major sponsorship agreement signed between Chobani and Fenerbahçe last year.
Under the agreement, Fenerbahçe's stadium will be named "Chobani Stadium" for 10 years. Chobani also became the jersey chest sponsor for the club's European cup matches. Fenerbahçe announced that it would earn 10 million euros per season from the stadium naming rights under the 5+5-year agreement and 4 million euros in the first season from the jersey sponsorship for European matches.
FOUNDED IN 2007, GREW INTO A US YOGURT GIANT
Hamdi Ulukaya, born in Elazığ, went to the US for education in 1994. Ulukaya purchased an old yogurt factory in New York state and founded Chobani in 2007 after about two years of preparation.
Chobani, which grew rapidly in the US market with its yogurt containing less sugar and high protein, increased its annual sales above $1 billion in less than five years and became the leading yogurt brand in the US in 2011.
COMPANY VALUATION REACHED $20 BILLION
In recent years, Chobani has expanded beyond yogurt into different food and beverage categories. The company reached a valuation of $20 billion with a $650 million investment received in 2025, a development that also caused a significant leap in Ulukaya's wealth.
According to Forbes' current data, Ulukaya's fortune stands at $11.3 billion. With this fortune, Ulukaya has surpassed Murat Ülker to become the richest person in Turkey.
HAD GIVEN INVESTMENT MESSAGE TO TURKEY
Ulukaya's statements about investing in Turkey have also come to the fore recently with high-level contacts. In April 2026, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Ulukaya, who is also the Chairman of the US-Turkey Business Council. The meeting discussed commercial and economic relations between Turkey and the US, as well as investment opportunities.