Cheese maker Dairy-Free Down Under is bringing its plant-based cheese overseas. The company, which is Australia’s only large-scale vegan cheese and dip manufacturer, was introduced to overseas markets by the Gold Coast City Council during the Commonwealth Games.
“I got talked into going at the last minute by a representative from the Gold Coast City Council. I’m thankful now because as a result we were able to begin exporting within our first year of launching Dairy-Free Down Under, which we never even dreamed possible,” Dairy-Free Down Under co-founder Kevin Flanagan said.
The dairy company has its headquarters in Carrara with 30 local employees. It began its exports in October as it meets the demand from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.
“This is particularly helpful for our cash flow as we simultaneously self-fund our R&D and build on our distribution within the Australian market, which now covers about 900 retail and fast-food outlets including health stores, independents, Costcos and Zambreros. We’re also in discussions for export opportunities in China, Japan and the United States of America,” Flanagan added.
The expansion has led to the hiring of a team leader to handle the growing demand for its plant-based products throughout Australia and overseas.
“This health-conscious culture has meant some of our country’s top food innovators – including Dairy-Free Down Under – are coming out of the Gold Coast. We believe everyone deserves a seat at the table and the chance to enjoy their favourite foods, in fact, our business was originally inspired by our daughter’s intolerance to dairy and that I didn’t want to cook multiple versions of the same dish. We’re happy we’re spreading this culture of food inclusivity throughout the world and grateful for this opportunity provided by Gold Coast City Council,” Flanagan said.
Dairy-Free Down Under co-founder Jenny Flanagan said Australia, particularly the Gold Coast, was quite known internationally for Aussies having a healthy lifestyle.
