Name
Carl Hopwood
Age
35
Job title
Founder and director
Company and location
Oato, Preston
Education
Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh
Favourite food/drink
Oat milk, of course!
What inspired you to enter F&B?
In 2019, while working in software sales, I noticed a shift – many of my colleagues were switching from cow’s milk to oat milk. This change led to something unexpected: a growing pile of oat milk cartons in our office hallway with nowhere to recycle them. As long-life cartons aren’t widely recycled, most were destined for landfills or incineration. With a background in chemistry, I started asking myself if there be a better solution Of course there was – fresh oat milk distributed in the way dairy milk is distributed across the UK.
Tell us about your role
As the founder of Oato, I guide our overall vision and strategy for where we’re taking the company. I enjoy being hands-on across all aspects of the business – from product development and production processes to building strong relationships with our retailers and milk round partners.
I feel fortunate that my role allows me to combine my passion for science with creating a brand that works towards sustainability. The best part is working alongside a team who shares this same enthusiasm and commitment to what we’re creating!
What does a typical day look like?
No two days are the same for me, which keeps things exciting. Recently, I’ve been busy with the move of our production from our old site in Carnforth to our main site in Preston. This transition has been all-consuming but rewarding. A typical day involves both hands-on work in the factory and catching up with my team to see how everyone’s doing. I also regularly connect with our retail partners and milk round distributors to maintain those crucial relationships.
How did you get to where you are today?
We produce everything ourselves in Preston, that’s pretty unique for a startup brand in the F&B space. It’s been key to our success as we’re able to truly innovate not only in product but also in packaging. We started with our Barista Oato in reusable glass distributed across milk rounds, and now we also sell poly bottles and have a range of very tasty flavoured oat milks. I think getting here has been a combination of my interest in production, distribution and brand building. It seems to be working as we’ve just launched across 400 Sainsbury’s, but of course this also wouldn’t have been possible without the support of everyone in our amazing team.
When you’re having a bad day, what cheers you up?
Hearing feedback from our customers always lifts my spirits. There’s nothing like reading a message from someone who’s switched to Oato and loves it. And when all else fails, taking my MTB up into the Lakes for a ride with some friends works wonders.
What’s your favourite part about the food sector?
What I love most about the food sector is its tangibility – we’re creating products that people welcome into their homes and enjoy every day. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing our bottles on shelves or doorsteps. The food industry also attracts passionate people who genuinely care about quality, sustainability, and innovation. The community we’ve built with our milk round partners, retailers, and customers is something I couldn’t have found in my previous career in software sales.
If you could change one thing about the F&B sector what would it be?
It would be improving the availability of widely reusable and recyclable packaging. At Oato, we’ve embraced the milk rounds model, where bottles are reused an average of 28 times. I’d love to see reusable glass become more common in retail – it’s a win for the consumer, retailer, and the environment.
What’s next for you/what’s the dream?
We’re committed to continuing our support of British milk rounds while also expanding our retail presence to make Oato more convenient and accessible than ever. Hopefully soon, you’ll start seeing our products popping up in your favourite coffee shops, too!
