Central New York yogurt powerhouse Chobani has registered its company in Delaware. Chobani says it’s not going anywhere, but it’s increased rumors the company is going public.
Chobani's headquarters and Greek yogurt plant is in Norwich, in Chenango County. But for tax purposes, it’s now a resident of Delaware.
Many corporations call The First State their home on paper, because Delaware has more lenient corporate policies.
Chobani says in a statement that its home remains in New York and it registered in Delaware to “permit greater flexibility” growing its business.
Our home remains in New York where Chobani was founded, where our yogurt is made and where our company is headquartered. Like many companies based around the country, Chobani registered in Delaware earlier this year to permit greater flexibility in operating and growing the business.
The corporate maneuver was first reported Wednesday morning by The New York Post. And the newspaper speculated Chobani will likely take the next step, and become a publicly-traded company soon.
The move — which comes just as Albany seeks to make yogurt the state’s official snack — is more evidence that the company headquartered in Norwich, NY, is preparing to go public.
Chobani has not filed that paperwork yet with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but last month it did secure a $750 million private equity loan.
Chobani’s popularity since it opened in 2005 has helped usher in a surge in production from the dairy and yogurt industry upstate.
