Battle Oats to supply 300 Holland & Barrett stores

Battle Oats’s products – including its high protein oat bars – began selling on Holland & Barrett’s website on April 3, and will be stocked in stores within a couple of weeks, the Hull-based manufacturer said.

Co-founder of the business Shaun Gibbins said: “Holland & Barrett is the UK’s leading high street health food chain, so securing this deal is a major step forward for us as a business.​

“Our reputation is growing in the flourishing fitness and sports markets, and to have products in another 300 retail outlets is a major boost for our reach in the UK.”​

Exports to more than 10 countries​

Battle Oats also supplies independent health stores and gyms in the UK. It has customers in the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and Kuwait, and now exports to more than 10 countries.

The manufacturer – which produces protein bars with what it claimed were 100% natural ingredients – saw sales rise by more than 100% each year, over the past two years. Last year, it shipped more than 1M protein bars.

Co-founder Kevin Smith said: “The sports nutrition market in the UK is now valued at £580M, and last year saw 21% growth in the sports protein bar and snack segment, as health-conscious consumers increasingly demand nutritious snacks on the go.​

“Fortunately, our products tick all of the boxes and we have established a loyal following, who, along with new customers, will now find it even easier to find our products on high streets throughout the UK.”​

In talks with other stores​

Battle Oats aimed to sign more contracts with high street retailers over the coming months, and is already in talks with other stores.

Smith added: “We are in conversations with a number of other retailers, and with some new products coming online in ​[the second quarter] that broaden the ‘free-from’ range we already offer, we are confident of securing more retailers this year.”​

Meanwhile, nutrition firm Glanbia confirmed its acquisition of Body & Fit on April 3. Glanbia revealed its intention to buy the performance nutrition firm on February 6, along with plant-based nutrition company Amazing grass, in a combined £156M deal​.