Oatly backer Verlinvest to build on brand’s success in China, aims to create next wave of successful F&B brands

Name: 3D printouts of plant-based meat could become alternative food for world’s population
Uploaded: 2021-05-25T08:30:23.000Z
Duration: 1 min 36 s
Description: 3D printouts of plant-based meat could become alternative food for world’s population

Keen to back Chinese entrepreneurs, help them build new successful F&B brands of tomorrow, executive says

Verlinvest is Oatly’s largest shareholder and has helped the company expand sales in China

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Oatly’s sales in China have risen to account for 13 per cent of its global sales since it entered the mainland market in 2018. Photo: AFP

Peggy Sito

Published: 4:30pm, 25 May 2021Updated: 9:34pm, 25 May 2021

Verlinvest, a Belgium-based investment company backed by the family controlling beer giant AB InBev, is planning a big push into China with the aim of building the next generation of successful brands and entrepreneurs in the country’s food and beverage (F&B) sector.

The company is owned by the De Spoelberch family, one of the three Belgian families that founded Interbrew and then AB InBev. It has offices in London, New York, Singapore, Mumbai and Brussels, and manages about US$2 billion in funds. It expects to have a lot of investments in China in the next few years, said executive director Raphael Thiolon.

“We are very keen to back Chinese entrepreneurs, helping them to build new successful food and drink brands of tomorrow,” he in an interview with the Post.

Verlinvest will aim to build on its experience with Sweden-based Oatly, the world’s largest oat milk producer. Oatly’s sales in China have risen to account for 13 per cent of its global sales since it entered the mainland market in 2018. Verlinvest is Oatly’s largest shareholder together with Chinese conglomerate China Resources and holds 47.6 per cent following the oat milk producer’s US$1.4 billion initial public offering on the Nasdaq last week. This is based on over allotment not being exercised. The stake will reduce to 45.9 per cent if the over allotment is exercised.

“We would like to be a partner of choice for every entrepreneur with a purpose and big ambitions, like we did with Oatly,” Thiolon said. China is quickly becoming one of Oatly’s largest markets.

01:36

3D printouts of plant-based meat could become alternative food for world’s population

“We are seeing exciting structural changes, with Chinese consumers increasingly drawn towards healthier nutrition, cleaner products and natural functionality. China offers fantastic growth opportunities for authentic yet innovative brands that promote high-quality offerings but also generate positive impact,” he said.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x