Introduce yourself. 

I’m Neil, and I’m the MD at Oatier, an Irish oat drink brand. At Oatier, we’re the oatiest oat company. Our mission is to create a tastier, creamier and superior oat drink. The best of the best. We use the purest oats, the best research and development, a bespoke recipe and an oat only production process. Simply put, we’re obsessed with creating the best oat drink, from seed to sip.

We started life in 2015, selling Irish oats abroad, mainly in Italy and Slovenia, and began developing our oat drinks over five years ago. We launched to the market in late 2023 and have been growing ever since. Based in Naas, our team of seven is spread across Ireland and London. 

What inspired you to join the natural health sector? 

We’re passionate about creating products that are not only good for you, but good for the planet too. That’s why we use oats. They’re one of the greenest grains and make the greenest milk - and that’s something worth shouting about! We’re pro planet. We’re pro oat.

Where did you get the idea for your brand?

We saw huge numbers of people are switching from cow’s milk to non-dairy alternatives, as a lifestyle choice, prompted by their own health, or the health of the planet. We knew that there was an opportunity for an Irish brand to play in this space. The climate and rainfall in Ireland is ideal for growing oats, and we produce some of the best oats in the world. We wanted to create a brand that championed the wonderful Irish growers and created Oatier as a result. 

What makes your brand unique?

We’re dedicated to creating creamier, tastier, worthier products to make our customers happier! Through intensive research, we’ve crafted a bespoke recipe & production process. Our team has spent thousands of hours and hundreds of recipes refining the process. The result? A unique, superior and silkier oat drink. Our use of 100% Irish oats is a key part of who we are, as we love supporting Irish growers, and they also produce a superb oat milk too. Barista’s tell us they love how creamy Oatier is compared to other brands, and how it foams consistently well too, allowing them to make the best latte art. 

What are your company’s core values?

We focused on creating great products that are not only good for you, but good for the planet. We’re committed to sourcing the best ingredients that ensure farmers get paid fairly for their produce, and have a minimal impact on the environment. Our recipe is formulated to ensure that we can offer a product that not only tastes great, but is also nutritious, and performs excellently in a barista setting. We believe that sustainability and nutrition should go hand in hand. 

How do you support your community?

We source the best quality Irish oats from growers across the country, ensuring that they meet our environmental standards, and ensure they get paid a fair price for their grains too. We’re working towards becoming a B-Corp, and hope to have certification in 2026. We also work with a couple of charity partners and donate our oat drinks to them to feed the homeless, and to a café that is run by and in aid of people with dementia. 

What has been the most rewarding part of your brands journey? 

The most rewarding part of the journey for us has been hearing the wondering feedback from our customers and baristas across the country. Hearing how they have made the switch to Oatier and been able to delight their customers with a creamier and silkier coffee experience, makes it all worthwhile for us. 

What in your opinion makes Irish brands unique? 

As an Irish food brand, we’re at a wonderful intersection of having access to the best quality ingredients in the world, and being able to combine that with Irish wit in our marketing, to create a brand that that delights and entertains our customers.  

What is your favourite product from your brand?

It has to be our hero product, our Oatier Barista oat drink. It’s so versatile, you can have it in your coffee, over your cereal, or if you’re feeling cheeky, even drink it straight from the carton!

Tell us about something that has shaped your brand? 

As a small team, based in Naas, hiring the right people has been key. We’ve been very fortunate to attract a bunch of bright and ambitious people who all share the same values. When you’re a small company up against international competitors, it’s so important that everyone is aligned and pulling in the same direction, and we’ve been able to grow thanks to the efforts of our whole team.

What do you hope to accomplish in the future? 

We want Oatier to be an iconic Irish brand. We plan to take Oatier international, and be a top three oat drink brand in our chosen markets. We’re currently selling across Ireland, Northern Ireland, London and Paris. To realise our international goals, we’ll be taking the business public this year, with a listing on the Euronext stock exchange in Dublin.