From Seed to Sip: The Journey of Framptons’ Oats

Ever wondered how Framptons’ oat drinks make their way from the farm to your fridge? It’s a simple yet meticulous process, designed around sustainability, local farming, and ensuring the highest quality. From the fertile fields of Wessex to the shelves of your local store, follow the journey of our oats – grown and processed less than 50 miles apart!

 

Step 1: Seed Sold to Farm

Our journey begins with British farmers in partnership with Robin Appel Grain Merchants. Carefully selected oat seeds are sold to local Wessex farmers, who then sow these premium seeds into the rich soil of the region, setting the foundation for what will eventually become a delicious oat drink. Our stringent “seed to sip” control process also allows us to provide a gluten free oat, this requires the oat to be free from any wheat or barley (both of which contain gluten).

 

Step 2: Planting & On-Farm Care

Once the seeds are planted, farmers carefully nurture the soil to promote healthy growth. Throughout the growing season, they monitor the crops with regular crop walks and inspections, ensuring the oats are thriving under the best conditions, free from disease and pests until they are ready for harvesting.

 

 

Step 3: Harvesting & Sampling

When the oats reach optimum size and moisture, usually late July or August, they’re harvested with a combine harvester, collecting the grains efficiently while preserving their quality. Farmers then take samples to ensure the oats meet the high standards required for Framptons oat drinks. Only the best makes it to the next stage of their journey.

 

 

Step 4: Transportation to Processing

After harvest, the oats are loaded into lorries and transported to Robin Appel’s processing facility in Fisherton, Wiltshire. Upon arrival, further samples are taken to maintain stringent quality controls before the oats move forward in their journey.

 

Step 5: Cleaning, De-Hulling & Stabilisation

At Robin Appel, the oats undergo rigorous cleaning, sorting, and destoning processes to remove any impurities. The de-hulling process then removes the outer husk, revealing the nutritious oat groat inside. The groats are then stabilised, using steam to lock in their freshness and quality, ready for milling and further processing.

 

Step 6: Milling & Transportation to Framptons

The oat groats are transported to Framptons’ processing facility in Shepton Mallet – a short journey that helps reduce food miles and maintain the oats’ freshness. Here they are finely milled to achieve the perfect consistency. Having a uniform surface area allows the enzymes to work more effectively and efficiently.

 

 

Step 7: Enzyme Treatment & Oat Base Creation

At Framptons, the milled oats are mixed with water, and a natural enzyme treatment is applied to break down the starches. This step transforms the oats into a smooth, creamy base, rich in natural flavour and texture – perfect for creating our range of oat drinks.

 

Step 8: Blending, Pasteurisation & Packaging

The oat base is then blended according to customer preferences, whether it’s for our Unsweetened Oat, Barista Oat, or flavoured options like Chocolate or Oat Latte. The oat drink is then pasteurised to ensure safety and maintain quality before being poured into ultra clean beverage cartons to ensure a long shelf life. Each carton is then sealed and ready to make its way to retailers, wholesalers and coffee shops across the UK, delivering freshness and flavour with every sip.

 

Supporting British Farming & Sustainability

At Framptons, we’re proud to offer more than just a product – we provide a sustainable solution. Every step of this process supports local British farmers, reduces food miles, and ensures full traceability. From the seed sown in Wessex fields to the final product on your shelf, our Wessex Oat drinks embody our commitment to quality, sustainability, and the best of British farming.

So, the next time you pick up a carton of Framptons oat drinks, you’ll know the care, passion, and precision that went into every sip, from seed to shelf.