Sweden-based Oatly, the world’s first and largest oat drink company, has chosen Fort Worth as the site of its next North American production facility.

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce says Oatly’s 280,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing center will be located at 7550 Oak Grove Road and completed in 2023.

The company expects to create more than 100 jobs at the facility. It will produce 150 million liters of oat milk annually and have the largest footprint of the company’s three North American facilities.

Racing to keep up with demand

Oatly is racing to keep up with oat milk demand: the category more than doubled in the U.S. in 2020 from the prior year. 

“Every time someone decides to take their coffee with oatmilk or have an Oatgurt for their afternoon snack, we believe they’re making a choice that’s healthier for them and the planet. And more and more people are making those choices every day,” said Oatly President of North America Mike Messersmith in a statement. “We’re excited to break ground on this factory in Fort Worth, which we believe will allow us to meet the growing demand for Oatly’s products and grow our positive impact on the planet.”

Fort Worth Chamber closely involved

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce worked closely with Oatly and the City of Fort Worth throughout the development process, the chamber noted. Brian Corde and Ann Petersen from Atlas Insight LLC, a site selection firm based in Freehold, New Jersey, helped Oatly pick Fort Worth based on the city’s fit for Oatly’s sustainability, workforce, and geographic criteria.

Chris Strayer, EVP of economic development for the chamber, said he was thrilled to welcome the global brand to Fort Worth. “Our central U.S. location, affordable land with room to grow, and skilled manufacturing workforce will be an excellent home for Oatly,” he said in the statement.

The chamber says it’s actively working on more than 100 relocation and expansion projects—with around 75% of them focused on manufacturing and industrial companies.

Mayor Parker likes Oatly’s sustainable focus

“Fort Worth is dedicated to being a business-friendly city that is also committed to the health and well-being of our residents,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in the statement. “I’m excited to welcome Oatly, a company built on promoting personal well-being and sustainability, to Fort Worth, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact the company will have on the people in this town through many well-paying jobs and people around the world through its sustainability-focused philosophy.”

All employees at the Oatly Fort Worth facility will get the same benefits as those at Oatly’s plants in Ogden, Utah, and Millville, New Jersey—including  access to all Oatly’s health, wellness, leadership and sustainability learning programs, full medical, vision and dental benefits, 20 vacation days, paid sick and holiday days, up to 20 paid weeks of parental leave, and comparable eligibility for Oatly’s Incentive Award Plan.

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