World Coffee Portal data indicates oatmilk is the UK consumers’ preferred dairy alternative in coffee shops | Photo credit: Leon Seibert

Oatly has appointed Bryan Carroll as its new UK General Manager, tasked with helping ‘rapidly accelerate’ the brand’s growth in the UK. 
 

Carroll, who previously worked in sales and commercial roles at PepsiCo and SHS Drinks, will report to Oatly’s Chief Operating Officer Daniel Ordonez and focus on expanding the company’s foodservice and out-of-home partnerships in the UK. 

Carroll said he was joining Oatly at ‘a pivotal moment for the brand’ and stressed the need to shift towards plant-based products globally. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bryan, whose wide-ranging achievements across the entire food and drinks category make him an ideal candidate to help rapidly accelerate our growth in the UK,” said Daniel Ordonez. 

World Coffee Portal data indicates oatmilk is the UK consumers’ preferred dairy alternative in coffee shops. In a survey of more than 50,000 UK consumers, 16% said they had tried oatmilk in-store over the last 12 months, ahead of coconut and almond at 12%, and soya at 9%.    

Malmö-based Oatly achieved revenue growth of 7% to reach $183m in its third quarter, citing trading restrictions and production challenges as adversely impacting sales globally.  

Revenues in Europe, the Middle East and Africa fell 6% in the three months ended 30 September 2022 to $82.6m. Nonetheless, Oatly said its retail and foodservice channels were driving sales, with approximately 83% of EMEA revenue in the period deriving from retail channels. 
 

Oatly highlighted the UK as an important market for plant-based milks globally. In March 2021 the company announced plans to launch a new production facility in the UK in early in 2023. Oatly said the new site in Peterborough will initially produce 300m litres of oat milk annually, with scope to increase production to 450m litres.