How can people think entrepreneurially about something as basic as oats?

Brian Montgomery provides an engaging case study. A former investor, Montgomery wanted to develop a business where a simple product like oats and oatmeal can be turned into a new and truly creative lifestyle food. Oat Couture, his business from Ottawa Canada, provides millennials (as well as the local community) with a new and improved way of breakfast oatmeal. His message to his millennial target audience for Oat Couture is, “We want everyone to feel like they are coming home.” His message beautifully conveys his spirit of hospitality.

Not only does his cafe have a sit-down area, but he also offers online order and delivery options for young professionals who may be too busy to sit and eat. His kitchen accommodates many allergens and dietary needs; the meal presentation is also aesthetically pleasing. For example, he offers savory, sweet, and ultra-health conscious oatmeal bowls as well as seasonally flavored varieties. Currently, his fall specialty is pumpkin, which he makes distinctive with adding house-made caramel shortbread.

Clearly, Montgomery has a vision for his café; but his novel idea of making oatmeal fashionable is not his only innovation. He has pioneered the multi-purposing of café space. At night, one of his locations within sixty minutes is reconfigured as the Montgomery Scotch Lounge, a nod to his Scots pioneer heritage. This whole other business builds on the same theme of Scottish agricultural heritage but reaches another consumer market that may not be preoccupied with health, but instead prizes upmarket whiskey brands.

Brian Montgomery is an extraordinary entrepreneur, who can read his market and find innovating ways to use space and classic ingredients.

Please take a look at Montgomery’s entrepreneurial websites for his businesses:

https://oatcouturecafe.com/

http://montgomeryscotchlounge.com/