About Oatly
Oatly is the Swedish company that pioneered commercial oat milk, founded in 1994 by food scientist Rickard Öste and his brother Björn Öste. While researching lactose intolerance and sustainable food systems at Lund University, Rickard invented a patented process for transforming liquid oats into nutritious, environmentally-friendly milk alternatives. The first Oatly products appeared in Swedish supermarkets in 1994, developed in collaboration with Lund University for people with lactose intolerance. The consumer brand officially launched in 2001, and under new leadership from 2012, Oatly expanded internationally—entering the UK, Germany, and US markets by 2016. The UK is now one of Oatly's key markets alongside Sweden and Germany. The company famously battled the Swedish dairy lobby, whose successful lawsuit against the slogan "Milk, but made for humans" only increased Oatly's sales when they published the court documents. In 2018, Oatly spent £700,000 on UK advertising, becoming a household name. Oatly Barista Edition is the UK's most popular oat drink, beloved by consumers and coffee shops alike for its rich, creamy texture and ability to micro-foam perfectly. The core range now uses British-grown oats, reducing the carbon footprint by 7-13%. Recent additions include Barista Lighter Taste (lower fat for light-roast coffee) and Baristamatic for automated coffee machines. The broader UK range includes Original Oat Drink, Chocolate Oat Drink, Creamy Oat (cooking cream alternative), Whippable Creamy Oat, Oat Fraiche, Oatgurt yoghurt alternatives, and ready-to-drink Iced Coffee. Oatly estimates their products reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to dairy milk. Oatly is available at UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Asda. Compare prices across retailers with Grocefully.