The Oatly Singapore manufacturing plant has been officially opened, in partnership with local food maker Yeo Hiap Seng, best known as Yeo’s.
The plant is the first outside Europe and North America to produce Oatly’s to-based alt-milk beverages and will supply not just the Singapore market, but export markets in Asia, both existing and new.
While the facility came on stream in July, its formal opening, in the presence of Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Alvin Tan, was delayed due to Covid-19.
Yeo’s has been manufacturing plant-based beverages for more than a century, and Swedish-headquartered Oatly is the world’s original and largest oat drink company, making the companies ideal partners to expand sales in Asia, and reduce the need to ship products from Europe.
“Despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, we are thrilled that the production facility opened in July,” said Oatly Asia president David Zhang. “Oatly is grateful to Yeo’s and the Singapore Government for their unwavering support during this challenging time.
“This new facility will help drive Oatly’s expansion into new and existing markets in Asia and support us to drive the shift from dairy to oat milk for the benefit of people and planet.”
Yeo’s group CEO Samuel Koh said the facility demonstrates Yeo’s ability to meet the stringent food standards and regulations in its manufacturing process. “Following the successful rollout, Yeo’s looks forward to supporting Oatly’s long-term growth in the region.”
Yeo’s has pioneered innovation in Asian beverages for more than 100 years and was the first company in the world to package Asian drinks in Tetra Brik aseptic cartons using UHT process, and the first to offer curry chicken in canned form. Yeo produces a range of soybean and chrysanthemum drinks sold across Asia, Europe and North America.
Oatly, which sells in 20 countries, is enjoying a growing profile in Asia, especially in Hong Kong where it is commonly found on cafe menus as a milk alternative. The company produces alternatives to milk, ice cream, yogurt, cooking creams, and spreads. Oatly is the world’s second-most searched plant-based food brand on Google, accounting for 2 million searches last year.
