Ecotone has made its debut in the dairy-alternative drinks sector with the UK launch of two oat milk products under its Kallo brand.  

It marks the natural food brand's entry into the “fast-growing” plant-based milk category, France-headquartered Ecotone said in a statement.  

The new Kallo Organic Oat Milks range includes two variants: Gluten-Free Oat Milk and Oat and Protein Milk.  

Both products are unsweetened and free from preservatives, flavourings, and colourings. They also have no added sugar.

Initially available online via Amazon and in health-food stores across the UK, the new oat milks will retail at £2.30 ($3.12).  

Caroline Mitchell, free-from brand controller at Ecotone in the UK, said dairy alternatives are a category that “typically appeals to a conscious consumer who cares about the planet and their personal health”.  

The category has “offered limited choice for protein in oat milks” until now, Mitchell said, adding that the company is "proud to be able to fill that gap and support consumers looking to increase their protein intake”. 

Ecotone said the oat milks, which are made from gluten-free oats, provide 25g of “natural plant protein per litre” and cater to consumers seeking "functional, dairy-free options without artificial fortification".  

The Kallo product offering also features rice cakes, stocks, and gravies, along with breakfast cereals. 

Ecotone said the Kallo oat milks will be produced at two of its B-Corp certified production facilities and packaged in fully recyclable cartons. 

Just Food has asked Ecotone to clarify the location of the factories and to confirm the future market plans for the oat milks.

The launch is the latest development within the European alt-milk industry. 

In July, UK dairy-free brand Mighty Drinks was acquired by The Mighty Kitchen after the company faced financial struggles and a lack of profitability.  

Meanwhile, in May, Swedish agri-food group Lantmännen invested in plant-based milk business Sproud, which uses split yellow peas as a primary ingredient for its milk alternatives. 

In another shift, Arla Foods discontinued its Jörd alt-milk brand earlier this year, just three years after launching it in 2020.  

The move was seen as controversial given the dairy giant’s history as a co-op owned by dairy farmers, some of whom had publicly opposed the rise of plant-based dairy alternatives.