Benelux: Lotus Bakeries invests in direct-to-consumer platform Oot

  • 10 May 2021
The corporate venture capital arm of Belgian food company Lotus Bakeries has acquired a minority stake in Dutch breakfast brand Oot

Fast Forward 2032 (FF2032), the corporate venture capital arm of Lotus Bakeries, has acquired a minority stake in Dutch direct-to-consumer online brand Oot.

Oot is the brainchild of Valentine van der Lande who decided to launch a direct-to-consumer online platform after being frustrated for not being able to find healthy and tasty granola products in supermarkets.

Launched in 2018, Oot offers a broad range of freshly baked, gluten-free and organic granolas that are low in sugars.

Products are sold online via www.oot.nl and delivered to consumers doorsteps

The company caters to personal preferences, and consumers can either place single orders or opt for a subscription package to ensure a continuous supply at home.

The granolas are available in six different variants – classic full of nuts, cacao, and low-carb ‘keto’.

Oot claims to have grown its customer base to 60,000 customers in the Netherlands and Belgium.

“Lotus Bakeries is a company I greatly admire for its entrepreneurial culture and continuous drive to conquer the world with its products,” said van der Lande. “FF2032 allows us to maintain our entrepreneurial spirit while supporting us financially and strategically in realising our ambitious growth plans.”

Van der Lande said she seeks to position Oot as the biggest healthy breakfast brand in Europe.

“Oot caught our attention with its pure online direct-to-consumer concept,” said Isabelle Maes, chief executive Natural Foods at Lotus Bakeries. “We are impressed by the growth path of Oot, driven by the online subscription business that creates a robust customer base and on top provides direct access to consumers to be able to cater to their preferences.”

Maes explained that Lotus Bakeries believes in the scalability of Oot’s business model and its potential to accelerate both in the Benelux region and internationally. “We’re happy to be able tobe part of this journey and to contribute to the ambitious growth plans of Oots,” she added.

Oot is the fourth company to join FF2032’s investment portfolio. The company has already invested in UK’s Peter’s Yard and the US brands Partake and Love Corn.