{"id":10048,"date":"2021-05-24T10:32:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T10:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2021\/05\/24\/move-over-porridge-oat-milk-is-whipping-up-an-international-frenzy-and-canada-is-lapping-it-up\/"},"modified":"2021-05-24T10:32:41","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T10:32:41","slug":"move-over-porridge-oat-milk-is-whipping-up-an-international-frenzy-and-canada-is-lapping-it-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2021\/05\/24\/move-over-porridge-oat-milk-is-whipping-up-an-international-frenzy-and-canada-is-lapping-it-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Move over porridge: Oat milk is whipping up an international frenzy and Canada is lapping it up"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><\/div><p> \n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> News <\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> Economy <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p class=\"article-subtitle\"> One of the world&#8217;s top producers, Canada could cash in on the oat boom if it picks up the pace <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"published-by\">\n<p>Author of the article:<\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"published-by__author\">Jake Edmiston<\/span> <\/div><\/div>\n<figure class=\"featured-image\"><picture class=\"featured-image__ratio featured-image-category__economy\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"featured-image__caption image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Wallace Espresso founder and owner Daniel Wahlen shows an oat milk espresso at his Toronto cafe.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Peter J Thompson\/National Post<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Wallace Espresso\u2019s weekly order of oat milk is starting to rival what it receives in cows milk. The small chain of coffee shops in downtown Toronto brings in as many as 21 cases \u2014 252 litres \u2014 of oat milk per week. That\u2019s far more than any other milk substitute and about half the company\u2019s weekly supply of whole milk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going through quite a bit,\u201d said Daniel Wahlen, Wallace Espresso\u2019s owner. \u201cWe serve a ton of iced oat milk lattes, tons of oat cappuccinos, oat flat whites.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">About three years ago, Wahlen\u2019s vegan and lactose-intolerant customers started asking for oat milk. Then, everybody seemed to be asking for it, young and old, hip and un-hip. He stopped having to explain what it was or how well it steamed into foam or how familiar it tasted. Oat milk also brought less political baggage than the more traditional plant-based milks, including concerns around the environmental impacts of growing almonds, and the debate over whether soy prevents cancer, causes cancer, or is essentially neutral.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-1\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s kind of the \u2018it\u2019 milk,\u201d Wahlen said.<\/p>\n<p>To be sure, dairy still rules Canada\u2019s grocery fridges and coffee shops, with annual sales of US$2.1 billion that dwarf the substitutes, according to Euromonitor International, a market research firm.<\/p>\n<p>But the widening world of milk substitutes has now cracked the mainstream, driven by growing concerns around animal welfare and the impacts of the livestock sector on climate change. The global market for substitutes was worth about US$17 billion in 2020, an increase of more than 96 per cent since 2010, according to Euromonitor. And of all those milk substitutes \u2014 made from nuts, hemp, pulses, grains, coconuts \u2014 oat milk is widely believed to hold the most promise, growing in demand faster than many producers can make it. One of the top producers, Swedish manufacturer Oatly Group AB, notched a stock-market valuation of more than US$13 billion in its initial public offering last week, backed by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Jay-Z.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Oats are such an exciting space right now &#8230; not words I ever thought I was going to say<\/p>\n<p>Lenore Newman, director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As one of the biggest producers of oats in the world, Canada stands to gain from the international frenzy.\u00a0Boom times for oat milk could translate into boom times for the Prairies, where most of the country\u2019s oats are grown. \u201cOats are such an exciting space right now \u2026 not words I ever thought I was going to say,\u201d said Lenore Newman, director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley. \u201cThey\u2019re not just for porridge anymore, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"embedded-image\"><picture class=\"embedded-image__ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Of all those milk substitutes \u2014 made from nuts, hemp, pulses, grains, coconuts \u2014 oat milk is widely believed to hold the most promise, growing in demand faster than many producers can make it.\" class=\"embedded-image__image lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk30524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=576 2x\" height=\"638\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\"> Of all those milk substitutes \u2014 made from nuts, hemp, pulses, grains, coconuts \u2014 oat milk is widely believed to hold the most promise, growing in demand faster than many producers can make it.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Getty Images<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-async=\"\">The future was not always this bright for oats. While always a major global player, Canada\u2019s total oat production had been in decline, Newman said. But after last year\u2019s harvest, Canada unseated Russia as the second largest producer in the world, behind only the European Union, with 4.6 million metric tons of Canadian oats \u2014 up 27 per cent over the five-year average output, according to a report this month from the United States Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">Canada\u2019s total oat exports in the 2020-21 crop year are projected to hit the highest level on record, up 13 per cent over the previous year, the federal agriculture department reported in April.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s taking time for people such as Newman to adjust to the excitement around oats because the market up until now had always been pretty simple: Humans consumed an incredibly small portion, the rest went toward feeding livestock. But the burgeoning trend in plant-based milk presents an opportunity to extract more value out of oats.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe thought is it\u2019s going to continue to grow,\u201d Newman said. \u201cThe weird sort of success story for Canada is we grow the things you have to feed into all these plant-based proteins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So far, the oat-milk explosion has delivered a major victory to Canadian oat farmers, but it doesn\u2019t have to be the only victory. In an April prospectus ahead of its IPO, the Swedish company said it relies on Canada, and four other places, for its oats.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embedded-image\"><picture class=\"embedded-image__ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"An oat crop east of Saskatoon. After last year\u2019s harvest, Canada unseated Russia as the second largest producer in the world, behind only the European Union.\" class=\"embedded-image__image lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-crop-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=576 2x\" height=\"668\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\"> An oat crop east of Saskatoon. After last year\u2019s harvest, Canada unseated Russia as the second largest producer in the world, behind only the European Union.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Gord Waldner\/Postmedia<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-async=\"\">There\u2019s more money to be made in processing those oats into specialized ingredients for the oat milk business, but historically Canada hasn\u2019t exactly excelled at squeezing all the value out of its raw materials before exporting them.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Something similar happened as recently as 2019, when Beyond Meat made its wild stock market debut. Pea protein was the star ingredient in Beyond Meat\u2019s plant-based burgers and sausages, and Canada was growing a lot of those peas, but not processing as many.<\/p>\n<p>But that old story is changing. French food giant Roquette Fr\u00e8res SA is expected to have its $600-million pea processing facility in Manitoba fully operational by early next year, and much of its powder protein product will be destined for plant-based meat products.<\/p>\n<p>Oats appear to be up next. Regional processors have an advantage because shipping relatively heavy boxes of liquid around the world is expensive. So, the opportunity is in processing the raw oats into different inputs for oat milk manufacturers around the world. Some Canadian mills are expanding existing facilities or adding new ones to keep up with demand, according to the western Canadian consulting firm Oatinformation, which works with oat millers and food manufacturers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is growth everywhere,\u201d Oatinformation president Randy Strychar said. \u201cI\u2019ve been in the oat industry for 40 years. This is a pretty exciting time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Just as it doesn\u2019t make sense to ship extra water around the world, it also doesn\u2019t make much sense to ship raw oats since the hulls on them aren\u2019t worth much.<\/p>\n<p>That means Canadian mills, which are close to the fields, are best suited to do primary processing for the oat milk business \u2014 taking off the hulls and cutting them into flakes.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Those flakes can go to a secondary processing facility aimed at making what\u2019s known as \u201coat liquid,\u201d Strychar said. Oat manufacturers can then mix the concentrated oat liquid with more water and other additives to make milk closer to the consumer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embedded-image\"><picture class=\"embedded-image__ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Cartons of Oatly brand oat milk. The Swedish manufacturer Oatly Group AB, raised US$1.4 billion in an initial public offering last week, backed by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Jay-Z.\" class=\"embedded-image__image lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oatly0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=576 2x\" height=\"527\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\"> Cartons of Oatly brand oat milk. The Swedish manufacturer Oatly Group AB, raised US$1.4 billion in an initial public offering last week, backed by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Jay-Z.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Gabby Jones\/Bloomberg<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Making oat liquid is something of a new game in Canada, and a backlog has begun.<\/p>\n<p>Silk \u2014 the top alternative milk brand in Canada owned by Paris-based yoghurt giant Danone S.A. \u2014 is now struggling to procure enough processed oat ingredients in Canada to make its oat milk for this market.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think Canada had seen the wave coming so they\u2019re kind of trying to close the gap,\u201d Genevi\u00e8ve Bolduc, marketing director of Danone\u2019s plant-based food and beverages division in Canada, said in an interview.<\/p>\n<p>Silk\u2019s oat milk sales in Canada have been growing by more than 300 per cent in the last 12 weeks, compared to the previous year. That growth could be enough for oat milk to soon pass soy milk as Silk\u2019s second biggest product, behind only almond milk, Bolduc said. To keep pace, Bolduc said Danone is working with Canadian processors to expand the industry\u2019s capacity to process oat milk ingredients, which the company\u2019s co-manufacturer in Ontario uses to produce Silk products.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is something as well that needs to grow because there\u2019s such a high demand for oats right now that there\u2019s a bottleneck at some point,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Canada does have a strong stable of plant-based milk producers domestically, which has been quietly pumping out soy milk for decades, including Vancouver-based Earth\u2019s Own Food Co., and Quebec-based Natura Foods.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel6414592593289869619845116704574698\" class=\"more-topic\" data-carousel-icon-button=\"\" data-carousel-type=\"list\"><button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-prev\" data-carousel-prev=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"previous\" type=\"button\"\/><\/p>\n<ol class=\"more-topic__items list-unstyled\" data-carousel-slide-list=\"\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\"><picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Materials costs and supply-chain issues will raise prices for manufacturers, but so far there's little suggestion of consumer price increases \u2014 in fact, some prices may go down post-pandemic.\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/toilet-e1619047018626.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"><span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> A \u2018perfect storm\u2019 is making it much more costly to produce food, but consumers might not feel it <\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\"><picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"None\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Roquette-1.png?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"><span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> The unsteady future of food manufacturing in Canada <\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\"><picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"A Tim Hortons' executive says he expects the restaurant chain to keep executing its back-to-basics plan until at least the end of next year.\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Tim-Hortons-1.png?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"><span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> \u2018We must own it\u2019: Tim Hortons says plan to take back breakfast is working <\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-next\" data-carousel-next=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"next\" type=\"button\"\/><\/section>\n<p data-async=\"\">Earth\u2019s Own \u2014 the second biggest alternative milk producer, with a 28-per-cent share of the Canadian market \u2014 has spent roughly seven years figuring out how to process Canadian oats into milk. It runs two facilities at either end of the country \u2014 one in Vancouver, the other in Quebec City \u2014 that make the concentrated oat liquid, about the consistency of heavy cream, said Earth\u2019s Own chief executive Maheb Nathoo.<\/p>\n<p>The liquid is then shipped to one of three packaging plants that mix the concentrate with water, add minerals and vitamins and package the milk.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s tougher to make than, say, almond milk, because making that oat liquid involves a whole series of \u201ccomplex, interdependent, multistage\u201d processes, Nathoo said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve been at it for over seven years. So it\u2019s not something that came about overnight,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is where our scientists and our engineers come into play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earth\u2019s Own total sales in all alternative milks last year hit $125 million, according to Nathoo. The company has the top-selling oat milk in the country, with sales hitting triple-digit growth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are at full capacity,\u201d he said, adding that the company is making capital investments to expand its oat processing capacity. \u201cThe demand is outstripping the supply at this juncture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathoo started the company in 1997 as Soyaworld Inc., and then rebranded as Earth\u2019s Own a decade ago when it became clear the opportunity was bigger than soy.<\/p>\n<p>He now employs 300 people. At some point in the future, after he gets a handle on the domestic demand, he\u2019d like to start exporting Earth\u2019s Own concentrated oat milk base.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom a Canadian point of view, there is a huge opportunity to take this know-how worldwide,\u201d he said. \u201cBut at the same time, we recognize: one step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\"><em>\u2022 Email: jedmiston@nationalpost.com | Twitter: <a class=\"twitter-follow-button\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"User Interaction Click\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" source=\"\" type=\"\" name=\"\" target=\"\" url=\"\" vertical=\"\" position=\"\" pixels=\"\" link=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jakeedmiston\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">jakeedmiston<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"scroll-depth\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" of=\"\" page=\"\" viewed=\"\" story=\"\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article in your social network<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__ad-group\">\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--category visually-hidden\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-acceptable\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--slot1\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"TheLogic2790777325632633711669583061972006\" class=\"feed-section feed-section--partner-story list-widget--partner-story the-logic\" data-async=\"\">\n<div class=\"widget-title widget-title--partner-story flex-align-center row row--no-padding--left row--no-padding--right\">\n<p> In-depth reporting on the innovation economy from The Logic, brought to you in partnership with the Financial Post. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--slot2\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"FinancialPostTopStories8821087572660194099333981684797141\" class=\"newsletter-widget\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-target-list=\"FP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 id=\"FinancialPostTopStories8821087572660194099333981684797141\">Financial Post Top Stories<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"newsletter-widget__bottom js-form-main\">  <small> By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. 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Please try again <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<footer aria-label=\"Article Comments\" class=\"article-footer\">\n<section class=\"comments__section\" id=\"comments\">\n<h3 class=\"widget-title comments-anchor\" id=\"comments-area\">Comments<\/h3>\n<p class=\"comments__section-disclaimer\"> Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications\u2014you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>Move over porridge: Oat milk is whipping up an international frenzy and Canada is lapping it up<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>2021-05-24 10:32:41<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links News Economy One of the world&#8217;s top producers, Canada could cash in on the oat boom if it picks up the pace Author of the article: Jake&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oat-milk2-0524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10048\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/10049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}