Oatly Oatmilk

Oatly was established in the 1990s following research at Lund University in Sweden, where the enzymatic process to turn oats into liquid food was pioneered. The brand initially served a niche market but exploded in global popularity during the 2010s, positioning itself as a sustainable and vegan-friendly alternative to traditional dairy.

Today, Oatly operates a global production network to meet high demand. While its roots and primary innovation centers remain in Sweden, the company has established major manufacturing facilities in the United States (such as in Utah and New Jersey), the Netherlands (Vlissingen), Singapore, and China. This localized production strategy is designed to reduce the carbon footprint associated with shipping.

In terms of ownership, Oatly Group AB is a publicly traded company. However, it maintains significant investment from a consortium that includes the Belgian family-owned investment firm Verlinvest and the China Resources brand. Despite various minority shareholders and its listing on the NASDAQ, the company continues to operate with its original Swedish identity and headquarters located in Malmö.