作者：foodinc

In an exclusive interview with Foodinc, Eric Melloul, managing director of Verlinvest (note: OATLY’s majority shareholder) and chairman of OATLY, said that OATLY is the first company in Verlinvest’s food and beverage portfolio to successfully go public. In recent years, to help OATLY expand globally, Verlinvest has provided support in terms of strategy, execution and capital.

China is also included in this expansion plan. According to Raphael Thiolon, the executive director of Verlinvest, OATLY didn’t consider entering Asia or China when Verlinvest first approached it. “One of the points we conveyed to the management is the huge potential we saw in China. That’s why China Resources also gets involved”.

Now, Verlinvest is seeking the next OATLY from local Chinese brands. Melloul revealed that the company is about to establish an office in China and plans to invest in local food and beverage companies. Thiolon, on the other hand, said that Verlinvest is bullish on a number of health food and beverage in China, including low-calorie sugar-free health drinks, ready-to-drink tea, coffee, low-alcohol beverages, baby food, as well as intestinal health and pet care.