A Circle K store in Colorado Springs, USA | Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0

---

 

Danone North America has struck new US retail partnerships for its Silk oatmilk brand amid rising demand for oat-based dairy alternatives in the US.
 
Convenience chains, 7-Eleven, Circle K, ExtraMile, Love's Travel Center, Murphy, Pilot Travel and Speedway are among those that will introduce Silk oatmilk portion control creamers to stores. The product will also be available at quick service chains Planet Smoothie and Another Broken Egg, which have 150 and 75 US locations respectively.  
 
The Colorado-headquartered branch of Danone said taste and texture were the two main reasons why oat had become one of the most frequently purchased dairy alternatives in the US, citing research from the Plant Based Foods Association.
 
"We are thrilled to partner with such great companies to help them drive sales and to expand our ability to bring Silk oatmilk to more people across the US," said Ariel Dalton, Vice president, Away from Home, Danone North America.
 
"As the plant-based pioneer with nearly 30 years of expertise in the category, it seems natural that more and more foodservice operators are turning to Danone North America for their oatmilk needs,” Dalton added.
 
Highlighting the growing importance of oat in the plant-based category, US boutique coffee chain, Blue Bottle Coffee now offers oat as the default pairing with beverages across 27 of its US cafés along the East Coast.
 
In the UK, World Coffee Portal data shows oat is now consumers’ preferred dairy alternative in coffee shops, with Starbucks launching a new oat range across its 1,000+ UK stores in January 2022.
 
Meanwhile Tim Hortons began serving Chobani oat drinks across 4,000 stores in its flagship Canadian market in late 2021.