Dairy-Free Down Under was born from Co-Founders Kevin and Jenny Flanagan’s desire for their family of five to all sit around the table and enjoy the same meal, despite one of their daughters’ intolerance to dairy.
Since launching the brand in March 2018 after three years of research and development, Gold Coast-headquartered Dairy-Free Down Under has grown tenfold, reflecting the demand for dairy-free and vegan products in Australia.
This International Women’s Day on 8 March 2019, Jenny reflects on her time as a woman in the fast-moving consumer goods industry saying there’s now many more opportunities today than there was when she was growing up. “Dairy-Free Down Under is all about inclusivity – in food and in life, so we are proud to celebrate International Women’s Day,” Jenny said. “There’s certainly more opportunities, especially with social media, that allow women to have a voice, compared to when I was growing up. As a mother of two daughters and one son, I’m pleased that Australia and the world are becoming more comfortable about calling out bad behaviours.”
When it comes to running their business Dairy-Free Down Under, Jenny said it is certainly a team effort instinctively dividing husband Kevin and her roles. “I tend to take care of accounts and finance, whereas Kevin is more focussed on distribution and export,” Jenny said. “I’ve always loved cooking, so I usually have the final word on whether products pass the taste and function test, but Kevin’s often the one suggesting what we need to make next.”
Within the past year, Australian consumers purchased more than $200 million in vegan milk-products, making Australia the third fastest growing plant-based nation in the world.
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