Chobani

 

December 12, 2011 issue of Fortune

 

If the quest for the perfect Greek yogurt was based on popularity alone, Chobani would take the crown. Chobani is currently the number one brand of Greek yogurt and the number three brand of yogurt in the nation. But, as we learned in Mean Girls, popularity is not everything. 

The Chobani yogurt trademark is owned by one of New York State’s largest dairy manufacturers, Agro-Farma Incorporated and all Chobani products are currently made in the company’s original South Edmeston, New York factory.

The Facts:

• Chobani was founded in 2007
• Chobani uses 21 million pounds of cow’s milk and ships 1.2 million cases of yogurt per week
•  405 New York dairy farms provide milk to Chobani through Dairylea Cooperative Incorporated, a subsidiary of Dairy Marketing Services (DMS)
• Dairylea is a milk-market organization located in the Northeast that supplies six billion pounds of raw milk to surrounding processing plants annually
• The milk used to make Chobani is hormone-free, including recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST)

  

  The Collins Knoll farm, a supplier for Chobani

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• The plain yogurt contains no preservatives or artificial ingredients
• DMS and Dairylea have no feed or pasture requirements and Chobani does not have any records indicating the cows have a specified diet
• One must therefore assume the dairy cows are provided a conventional feedlot diet 
• Chobani ranges in price from $1.39 to $2.39 per 6oz cup 

 

Chobani plant in South Edmeston, NY

The Taste:

Plain Chobani Greek yogurt has a smooth taste with an identifiable, but subtle tang. Despite the tang the yogurt has a light finish, lending itself well to savory and sweet applications. The yogurt is very thick, with a sour cream-like consistency. A mere 6oz. supplies 36% of suggested daily protein and the product is certainly filling. The texture is the largest selling point for this yogurt, it tastes and feels decadent on your tongue despite the stellar nutritional label. In short, I love this yogurt.

The Bottom Line:

Chobani plain Greek yogurt is undoubtedly (udderly?) delicious. I like that the company sources its milk from New York area farms located in close proximity of its single production facility. While the raw milk sourced for the yogurt is free of hormones and artificial ingredients, there are many other farm practices (including pesticide use and poor nutrition) not addressed by Chobani public relations that can negatively affect the life of dairy cattle despite the company's "Nothing but Good" tagline. I also question Chobani's ability to continue sourcing all of its milk from local farms as their business and production expands. While there is nothing inherently wrong with Chobani production, I am approaching this analysis with critical environmental and ethical lenses. Chobani's milk sourcing practices leave something to be desired, especially due to the brand's public image and an environmentally aware company.

Taste: A 

Manufacture and Milk Sourcing: B