Noosa Yoghurt: Koel Thomae

In this episode of How I Built This, Coel Tomei shares her entrepreneurial journey, which began when she tasted a delicious passion fruit yogurt while visiting Australia. After moving to the U.S. and working various jobs, she became determined to bring that yogurt to America. Coel initially struggled to find a manufacturer until she partnered with Rob Graves, a fourth-generation dairy farmer. Together, they created Noosa Yogurt, launching in Colorado in 2010. Despite challenges including operational setbacks and fierce competition, Noosa grew rapidly, thanks to strategic partnerships with retailers like Whole Foods and Target.

The episode highlights Coel's dedication to building customer relationships, product quality, and how she navigated ownership conflicts with her partners. After securing a private equity investment in 2014, Noosa modernized its operations and expanded its product line. Eventually, Coel reflects on her experience, discussing the balance of luck and hard work in her success, and her transitional journey post-acquisition by Campbell's Soup Company in 2018. From dreaming of her yogurt to managing a multimillion-dollar brand, Coel's story is one of passion, perseverance, and growth.