In a move that surely marks the end of oat milk’s time outside the mainstream, Swedish brand Oatly announced today that it will be added to the new spring menu at Starbucks Coffee locations nationwide starting tomorrow.
Oatly has already been on the coffee chain’s list of offerings at stores in the Midwest and California; the brand will now be offered as part of the core Starbucks menu in the U.S. year round.
“We’re pleased to bring Oatly oatmilk to Starbucks stores nationwide in the U.S., something our customers have asked for as they increasingly seek a variety of plant-based choices,” said Luigi Bonini, senior vice president, Global Product Innovation at Starbucks, in a press release.
Oatly will also feature prominently in two new coffee beverages: Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and Honey Oatmilk Latte.
“When selecting an oatmilk, we looked for a high-quality ingredient that is not only delicious, but also complements our coffees and inspires new handcrafted beverages like the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and Honey Oatmilk Latte. Oatly’s oatmilk has a smooth and velvety texture, foams beautifully, and pairs perfectly in our light and dark roast coffees, opening up new possibilities for beverage innovation at Starbucks,” Bonini said.
Starbucks’ adoption of oatmilk fits with the company’s track record of embracing non-dairy alternatives, which includes soy milk (introduced in 1997), coconut milk (debuted in 2015) and almond milk (added in 2016). Oatly’s success, and that of the broader oat milk category, has been closely linked with its use in coffee drinks. Having debuted in the U.S. at boutique roaster and retailer Intelligentsia in 2017, Oatly has subsequently expanded to other cafes and has partnered with brands like Stumptown, Red Hat and Intelligentsia again on ready-to-drink coffees.
Last week, Oatly submitted a plan to U.S. regulators for an initial public offering (IPO) which could value the brand as high as $2 billion.
“We know from experience that we’re in the midst of a plant-based revolution,” said Toni Petersson, Oatly CEO, in the release. “People everywhere are looking for ways to eat and drink that are better for them and for the planet they live on. Oatly exists to make it easy for people to make those choices every day, with every cup of coffee. We’re excited to be part of Starbucks’ ongoing commitment to sustainability. With this next step, together we’re able to reach that many more people across the U.S. with oatmilk and in so doing, continue to do great things for the planet.”