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Dive Briefing:
- Plant-based beverage brand Califia Farms announced the acquisition of Uproot Inc. Plant-based milk dispensing system for food service. Financial details were not disclosed.
- Uproot expects to expand its presence in foodservice locations, enabling Califia to reach more consumers through Uproot's turnkey technology. We source plant-based milk to reduce packaging waste.
- The acquisition comes months after the California-based plant-based milk maker began experimenting with more sustainable packaging, switching all of its bottles in the U.S. and Canada to 100% recycled plastic in February.
Dive Insight:
Jacob Conway and Kevin Eve founded Uproot to provide consumers with healthy plant-based milk options in more sustainable packaging options. The turnkey technology is a plant-based milk distribution program. We provide full service from manufacturing and distribution of large liter products for cafeterias and other food service outlets.
The company's machines, which dispense oatmeal and chocolate-flavored pea milk, are in operation at more than 150 college campuses and other dining facilities.
“The founders have achieved impressive distribution growth in just five years,” Califia Farms CEO Dave Ritterbusch said in a statement. “We look forward to building on this foundation to connect with consumers in new ways and bring plant-based milk to more people.”
After Califia decided to use recyclable plastics in all of its packaging, Ritterbush said Califia had made “significant efforts” to mitigate its environmental footprint, and that the concept of circularity — which involves reducing virgin materials and promoting the use of recycled materials — was “firmly entrenched at Califia.”
Califia plans to leverage its technology to expand its portfolio of Away From Home products, which are unique to the food service industry.
Some other plant-based milk companies have also been working to explore more sustainable packaging options.
British brands Mighty and Overherd have launched oat milk powder to replace paper packs, while Blue Farm has launched a powdered beetroot oat latte.
