a little bit about us at oato

We are a British manufacturer committed to a sustainable future, and helping to sustain existing traditional delivery businesses within the milk round industry.

Oato has grown from its humble beginnings in North West Lancashire – to now supplying doorsteps all across the UK.

We produce all our oat milk in house, from the raw British oats through to our final bottled oat milk.

How it started

Could there be a better alternative to oat drinks being imported from Europe, packaged in Tetrapaks, heated to ultra-high temperatures?

We certainly thought so, and we started Oato to provide a fresh oat drink made with British ingredients and delivered in glass.

With a strong network of milk rounds in the UK we saw the opportunity to support existing delivery businesses to diversify whilst providing a sustainable and plastic free product.

Oato was founded by Carl Hopwood, who has a background in chemistry and business, and strong interest in a more sustainable future.

We're expanding across the UK to offer our product to every household in the country.

We thought there could be a more sustainable alternative to oat drinks being imported from Europe, packaged in Tetrapaks, and heated to ultra-high temperatures.
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So we started Oato to provide a fresh oat drink made with British ingredients and delivered in glass. A zero-waste dairy alternative.

With a strong network of milk rounds in the UK we saw the opportunity to support existing delivery businesses to diversify whilst providing a sustainable and plastic free product.

Oato was founded by Carl Hopwood, with a background in chemistry and business, and strong interest in a more sustainable future.

oato manifesto

To minimise environmental impact in producing and delivering a range of quality oat-based dairy substitutes.

oato manifesto

To source our ingredients from the UK wherever possible, supporting a plant-based future for British consumers, farmers and businesses.

We deliver, sustainably

Glass instead of long-life cartons

Long life cartons present a significant environmental challenge. They are not widely recycled so a large portion also ends up in landfills or in incineration. The material composition of long life cartons further complicates their disposal as they are made up of about 20% polyethylene and 5% aluminium, neither of which biodegrades.

Additionally, even when long life cartons are successfully 'recycled', they are actually down-cycled into other products, rather than being converted back into new long life cartons.

On the other hand, our Oato glass bottles are reused after thorough cleaning, thus reducing waste. By choosing Oato glass bottles, you're making a more sustainable choice.

Distributed on existing milk rounds

By distributing our products using established milk rounds, we help to keep additional vehicles off the road, playing our part in reducing carbon emissions.

But there's more in it for you. Now you can conveniently order other daily essentials alongside your Oato, like fresh juice, bread, and yogurt. All these products come directly to your doorstep via these routes, providing you with an incredibly convenient delivery service.

So, why not experience this unique blend of convenience, sustainability, and community support? Find a milk round in your area and join us on this journey.

Join the Oato Team

We are looking for bright, motivated and kind people to join our expanding roster here at Oato. We offer a good working environment, fair pay and perks, and opportunity for growth!

see openings

Discover our partners

We are partnered with a range of existing reginonal and national milk rounds in order to support traditional businesses, and reach as many British doorsteps as we can.

our partners

Find your local milk round to order Oato to your doorstep

view all milk rounds