The Economic Development Corporation (EDCUtah), the City ofOgden, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) are excited to announce that Oatly, a food and beverage manufacturing company headquartered in Sweden, is opening an operations hub at Business Depot Ogden. This is a significant foreign direct investment (FDI) win.

“As a 25-year-old company, we’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm and incredible demand for Oatly that we’ve seen here in the states over the past few years. We’re equally excited that we’ve been able to make our products for the US here in North America,” said Oatly US General Manager Mike Messersmith. “Through this partnership with the state of Utah, our upcoming factory in Ogden will help us keep oatmilk in all the many coffee shops, grocery stores and refrigerators that want it.”

Oatly is a food manufacturing company that develops and produces oat-based drinks and foods. The company is dedicated to helping people eat and drink healthier without taxing the planet’s resources in the process. Oatly’s flagship product is its oatmilk, an original oat-based drink produced using patented enzyme technology that turns oats into nutritional and delicious liquid food.

The company worked with Brian Corde from Atlas Insight LLC,a site selection firm based in New Jersey, to help it arrive at the location decision.

EDCUtah and GOED first connected with Oatly in September 2018, when Atlas Insight sent a request for proposal. Utah made the short list, and Oatly conducted a site visit in November 2018. An available food grade facility in Business Depot Ogden provided an attractive turnkey solution for the company. Utah’s primary competition for the fast-moving project came from several locations in the western US.

Oatly plans to create up to 50 jobs over the next seven years. The total wages in aggregate are required to exceed 110 percent of the average county wage.

“Oatly is a great addition to Utah’s manufacturing community and will add to our food and beverage industry in the state,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “As their first operation in the west, Ogden is a great fit and we’re excited to have them in Utah.”

Ogden City Mayor Mike Caldwell welcomed the company. “The company’s commitment to healthy lifestyles aligns well with Ogden’s values and unmatched access to outdoor recreation. Oatly is a great community partner and we look forward to their presence in the community.”

“EDCUtah is excited for Oatly to establish a significant presence in Utah,” said Theresa A. Foxley, president and CEO of EDCUtah. “This will be the company’s first operation in the western U.S., and their corporate values of sustainability and environmental friendliness align nicely with our vision for economic development in Utah. Oatly will help raise the bar for employee compensation in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, and we appreciate the support of GOED, Ogden City, the Business Depot Ogden, and other partners to bring this project to fruition.”

For more information on this or other projects, contact Colby Cooley, at 801-323-4250, ccooley@edcutah.org. 

Investors: If you were involved in this project and would like to add your organization to this announcement, please email connect@edcutah.org

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