Millions to be invested in Kettering by oat milk firm
The firm behind it says it's great news for farming.
A multi-million-pound investment into British farms producing oats has been announced.
Plant based food and drink producer Alpro are behind it, as the drink oat drink industry sees a big increase in popularity.
Building on the £41 million already invested into its facility in Kettering, installing new equipment to reduce energy consumption and cut CO2 and water usage, Alpro will now invest millions in locally sourced British oats from farmers within 80 miles of the Navara Oat Mill.
That will cut transport and food miles, alongside supporting local British farmers and increase the percentage of British oats in the oat drink market.
It's now worth £275 million up from £155 million five years ago.
Oat milk sales up
The surge in oat milk popularity has resulted in oat drinks making up two-fifths of all plant-based drink sales.
Company bosses say new investment will allow British farmers to profit off the success of oat milk in the UK, broadening the products they produce and markets that they grow for.
Some 58 million litres of the British Oat Drink will be produced initially, equating to nearly one quarter of the site's annual production of plant-based drinks.
Zoe Gardner, Marketing Manager, says:
"It's crucial to support British farming, and especially so at this time.
"This will allow farmers more ways and uses over their oat produce. There will be new avenues and new innovation open to them.
"We're pleased our investment will be felt in the local economy.
"People really are looking to change their diets, and by sourcing in the UK it helps many.
"A reduction in food miles travelled for the producer will also give a marked impact on emissions figures too."