Anticipation Level High As This Norwich-Based Company Gets Ready To Go Public
Back in July, we reported that Chobani, with its headquarters based in Norwich, NY had intentions of becoming a public company and it's official: Chenango County's own has filed the paperwork this week to go public as a company whose stock will be available to be traded publicly on the stock market according to Forbes.com. The yogurt company would be listed on the NASDAQ market with the symbol CHO.
Chobani has been valued at more than $10 billion and was started back in 2005 quite modestly by Turkish immigrant Hamdi Ulukaya, who after coming to the United States, took out a small loan and bought an old yogurt plant in Edmeston, NY. It wasn't until 2007, that the first Chobani yogurt ("Chobani" is the Turkish word for "shepherd") hit store shelves according to www.chobani.com.
The company's product line has expanded over the years from the initial greek yogurt offerings. Chobani's product line includes their signature greek yogurt and many other yogurt varieties, but it also includes various oatmilks, creamers, cold brew coffee, and Fermented Plant-based Drinks.
Chobani has become a respected company, known to treat employees well. In fact, it was five years ago that in anticipation of becoming a public company at some point, company founder Ulukaya gave 2,000 employees shares that would amount to 10% of the company’s future value in the event of going public.
You can follow news from Chobani at chobani.com.
I am confident that residents in Chenango County and even Otsego County will be eager to have an opportunity to purchase stock from a company that not only has grown incredibly fast since its inception but is one of the largest employers in our region and gives back to local charities consistently.