According to Alpine 360, Chobani Founder’s Tips Apply to Frozen Yogurt Field
New York, New York (PRWEB) July 01, 2013 -- The team behind Alpine 360, a state-of-the-art frozen yogurt machine distributed by Alpine Freezer, is lending its support to a new article that focuses on Chobani billionaire Hamdi Ulukaya. The team explains that many of 40-year-old Ulukaya’s insights apply to those who work in the frozen yogurt industry, and are not just limited to those who sell Greek yogurt. Ulukaya has made the news since he first founded his company five years ago, and grabbed headlines again recently when Bloomberg named him the world’s newest billionaire.
Chobani continues to grow at a rapid pace, and in July the brand bought an Australian company called Bead Foods. They then named it Chobani Australia. Experts anticipate that Chobani Australia sales will jump from $65M to $75M in 2012. The brand as a whole is currently valued at $1.1B.
When asked for insight about how he has so quickly conquered the yogurt industry, Ulukaya explains that it is important never to dismiss an opportunity. He states that saw an advertisement listing the sale of a 100-year-old yogurt factory that was once owned by Kraft. Initially he tossed the ad aside, but then opted to give it a second look.
Ulukaya states, “I was always so surprised that there was no quality yogurt in the US. I thought, ‘I can do something here, without even knowing how.’ Everybody around me thought I was nuts. Here was this huge company, Kraft, getting out of this plant. If there was value in it, why would they close it? But you just have a gut feeling you can do something.”
Though there is value to using the beginning of a business as a fresh start, it is also important to understand what has worked in the past. Ulukaya notes that his first five employees were people who were currently working at the Kraft factory. The sixth employee had experience as a yogurt maker and was a family friend. He took this combination of experience and new perspective, and used it to bring the plant to a new level.
There was also a major focus on getting the product perfect. For new businesses, first impressions are especially important, and Ulukaya wanted to verify that his product would wow potential new customers. It took two years from the time of the purchase of the factory to when tubs of yogurt were spotted on shelves, but Ulukaya feels confident that this lengthy process was worth it to make sure that a new customer’s first spoonfuls would leave them wanting more.
When commenting on the importance of staying focused when starting a business, Ulukaya states, “As a founder, you have to learn to keep your eyes on an ultimate goal. If you lose sight of that goal, you have to get out. I always saw the goal. It was always there in my head.”
“Whether it’s Greek yogurt, frozen yogurt, or any other field, dedication to a perfect product and excellent customer service is essential for success in the long run. The story of Chobani just reinforces this. The lessons learned from the article featuring Hamdi Ulukaya are important for any business owner to consider, but are especially valuable for those in the frozen yogurt or Greek yogurt fields,” states the team at Alpine 360.
ABOUT:
Alpine 360 is a state-of-the-art frozen yogurt machine that is distributed by Alpine Freezer. Alpine Freezer is an industry leader; the company strives to provide top-notch customer service to clientele in order to help them establish successful frozen yogurt franchises. Alpine 360 and Alpine Freezer can allow a business owner to maximize efficiency and create the best-tasting product possible.
Steve Schulman, PR Management Inc., 484-362-9658, [email protected]
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