Chobani is an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, but paperwork is holding up shipment of its product to athletes getting ready to participate in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
According to multiple reports, 5,000 fresh single-serve cups of blueberry, strawberry and peach Chobani, and multi-serve containers of plain Chobani yogurt for smoothies were being held in a refrigerated warehouse at New Jersey’s Newark Airport. Russia officials blocked the shipment because it did not hold a Custom Union Certificate, a document confirming Chobani’s U.S. production standards meet those of Russia.
U.S. and Russian agriculture and political leaders – including Sen. Charles Schumer, from Chobani’s home state of New York – were working to resolve the issue, in hopes of getting the shipment to the Olympic village by Friday.
Chobani released a statement Wednesday morning:
“We appreciate Senator Charles Schumer’s support of Team USA by helping us complete the delivery of Chobani Greek Yogurt to Sochi to naturally power our athletes all the way to the finish line—something we’ve had in the works for quite some time. Right now, 5,000 fresh single-serve cups of blueberry, strawberry and peach Chobani, and multi-serve containers of plain Chobani yogurt for smoothies, are being stored in a temperature-controlled facility, waiting for the final go-ahead from Russian authorities to be immediately transported. This is a time when the focus should be on our athletes, so we’re just trying to do right by them in getting food they enjoy from home.
Supporting our Olympians over the past four years has been one of our greatest honors. Not only is Chobani a proud sponsor of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians – we’re also an authentic part of their training regimens and honored to be found inside their fridges. As the official yogurt of the 2014 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, chefs and nutritionists have served Chobani to the athletes in the U.S. Olympic Training Centers over the past several months.
Chobani’s commitment to Team USA is a recognition of how these athletes’ training matters, doing things the right way and never cutting corners – just as we’re committed to perfectly crafting every cup of Chobani.”