Wide Open Agriculture expands distribution channels for carbon-neutral oat milk

Regenerative food and farming business Wide Open Agriculture (ASX: WOA) will expand West Australian distribution channels for its OatUP oat milk after a strong local uptake during the initial months of commercialisation.

The plant-based regenerative and carbon neutral product is marketed under the Dirty Clean Food brand and is reported to have performed well with Perth-based prime distribution partner European Foods.

Initial traction has been strong in metropolitan grocery stores and cafés, and distribution is believed to be expanding weekly.

Customers acquired during the last six months include some of the state’s largest independent grocery operators such as Farmer Jacks, Boatshed Market, Brindle Group (The Good Grocer), Bunbury Farmers Market, Williams Woolshed and Spudshed.

Wide Open managing director Dr Ben Cole was pleased with the early results.

“We are thrilled with the positive uptake of OatUP,” he said.

“Our growing café, retail and distribution [network] has told us that customers are seeking out OatUP, as they can taste the difference of our WA-grown regenerative oats.”

South Australian sales

Initial sales have also been secured in the South Australian market, with Dirty Clean Food distributor Ultimate Fine Foods reporting positive initial uptake particularly in the high-end retail sector.

South Australian customers include The Chapley Group, which operates six independent supermarkets in Adelaide including Pasadena Foodland and Frewville Foodland.

Ultimate said it had seen strong early interest from some of the state’s “shrewdest” grocery groups.

“The product is clearly resonating with a number of retailers and we are optimistic that the clean taste of regenerative oats and OatUP’s carbon neutral mission will be a match for our customers’ needs in this category,” the company said.

Wide Open is in advanced discussions with distribution partners to potentially enable large-scale national retail distribution of OatUP.

Plans are also in place to commence online sales of OatUP to Australian consumers during the current quarter, leveraging its success with the Dirty Clean Food digital platform.

Global partners

Wide Open continues to engage with global partners to expand OatUP’s distribution beyond Australia, and has completed packaging prototypes for multiple markets starting with South East Asia.

Market testing and tasting has commenced in Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand with initial discussions also underway with potential customers and partners in the US and Europe.

Initial orders have been placed in Singapore and the company expects to announce its first Asian distributor relationship during the current financial year.

Oat milk market

Dr Cole said OatUP was well positioned to take advantage of promising commercial tailwinds across the current $4.78 billion oat milk market.

“Investor appetite for oat milk is at an all-time high,” he said.

“It is estimated the sector will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% each year to 2027 and [oat milk] sales across the board are outpacing more established alternative milk types such as almond and soy.”

He said OatUP’s carbon neutral certification would ensure the product stands out and differentiates from competitors at the point-of-sale.

Using oats produced from regenerative farming practices also further increases its eco-credentials.