Plant-based brand Alpro has announced a multi-million-pound investment in the UK to bring 100% British Oats to its oat drink range.
Working with Navara oat mill in Kettering, less than 10 miles up the road from its own factory, Alpro is sourcing the oats locally, mostly from farmers within 80 miles of the mill. The changes in oat sourcing and production process will significantly cut food miles, while supporting local farmers by giving them new avenues for their crops.
Danone UK & Ireland’s – Alpro’s parent company – stated that the multi-million-pound investment showcases its commitment to driving growth in the plant-based category, bringing consumers healthy products which are now homegrown for quality and taste.
Oat drinks are continuing to grow in popularity in the UK, with sales climbing to more than £275m, up from £155 million five years ago. This year, oat drinks make up two-fifths of all plant-based drink sales, up from a quarter five years ago, amounting to half a million litres of oat drink sold every day in the UK. Despite this boom, only 1% of oat drink sold in the UK has been guaranteed to be from 100% British oats. As the leading brand in the plant-based category, Alpro’s investment in British oats is an important move that will significantly increase the percentage of oats sourced locally in the market.
The investment has expanded Danone’s Alpro facility in Kettering, where some 58 million litres of the British Oat Drink are planned to be produced annually, equating to a quarter of the site’s annual production of plant-based drinks.
James Mayer, President of Danone UK & Ireland, said: “As a pioneer and global leader in plant-based nutrition, plant-based drinks are a key part of our strategy to boost growth by focusing on developing products that deliver on both health and taste. This significant UK investment in manufacturing from homegrown oats is an exciting step forward and a great demonstration of how we’re innovating to deliver healthy and tasty food & drink sustainably.”
