Page 20 - Food & Drink Business Nov-Dec 2019

✷ RISING STAR
✷ IN THE MIX POWDERS WITH
NATURAL POWERS
Natural Evolution produces: baking pre-mixes for cakes, pancakes and banana bread; dough mixes and flours; health supplements (organic vegan protein powder, green banana starch and reusable stainless steel straws); beauty mists and soap bars; ointments for humans and horses; and a green banana equine/animal mix.
Krista Watkins says: “We even have a t-shirt that features our Natural Evolution logo and a slogan ‘I’m bananas about you, let’s never split’!”
PRODUCT EXPANSION
Beginning with its green banana flour, Natural Evolution now has product categories spanning baking, health supplements, beauty, equine and healing.
“We have our brand business which supplies direct to customers online, selling all around Australia, and then retail-wise, we sell through health food stores and independents.
“We also supply larger retailers, such as Woolworths in its Macro brands portfolio, and quite a few others that I can’t name. Most of our sales are bulk ingredient to other companies, but we look forward to growing our brand and direct-to- customer opportunities once we have finished the new facility we want to build.
“We also sell to restaurants and cafés – two of our favourites are Serotonin in Melbourne and Wattle Tokyo, which is in Japan.”
GLOBAL DEMAND
Watkins says the company exports as much as it can.
“The domestic market is 80 per cent of our current production. It’s a very fine juggling act at the moment, as we are only able to produce just enough to supply our current market and in some cases have a lead time of 10-12 weeks.
“We are going through a development application right now for our new production facility, which will have eight to 10 times greater production capability. We’re anticipating it to be commissioned in early 2021, so that’s when we will
move into other international markets with our brand.”
INDUSTRY EVOLUTION The recently established Evolution Industries means everythingit took to create Natural Evolution is now documented and in a central
location. For Krista Watkins, “This way we can easily replicate the process time and time again – regardless of whether it’s a product line for processing to add to our business, or if we are creating a new business for someone else.
“It really is the brains trust of the operation.”
Seeing further opportunities to reduce waste and use resources as fully as possible, the couple has also recently established Plantation Brew Co.
“This business is the ‘little sister’ of Natural Evolution, and uses liquid that is a by-product of processing fruit and veggies into powder,” she said.
“The result is a range of authentic, sustainable spirits all made from scratch. Our first line is a Sweet Potato Vodka, with a Green Banana Rum to come later.”
SCIENCE-DRIVEN EXPANSION
Krista Watkins sees limitless business potential. She says: “Quite literally, who knows where we go from there? But our history in business tells us that there are no boundaries in creation or possibility: we go where there is a need from farmers and create something that people anywhere in the world can connect with.”
Watkins wants Natural Evolution to become one of the world’s most trusted, effective functional food companies, backed by “our authenticity and relentless efforts to unlock nature’s mysteries through science,” she says.
“No one knew that green bananas were the world’s richest source of prebiotic fibre – we discovered that, and it has changed many things for many people and companies in how theylookatdeliveringoptimum nutrition to customers.
“We have this product listed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration for its benefits, and continue to undertake
studies with hospitals documenting how its powers help patients. And then, the sweet potato just so happens to be the richest plant source of vitamin A.
“All of this has only been possible with the food- processing technology we designed, because so much nutrition is lost in conventional methods.”
REGIONAL PROCESSING INDUSTRY GOALS
Watkins says, “I want to bring sustainable food processing back to rural and regional Australia and grow that industry, continuing to ensure we hold our position as one of the global leaders for supply but also innovation and sustainability. Our farmers are growing 100 per cent so I want to make use of that.
“It’s quite amazing when I think about it: ten years ago there was no such thing as green banana powder, and now here we are, having created a new product, introduced it to market, and created a demand for it where we need to keep expanding to supply our existing customer base. There are even market reports on the global opportunities for green banana powder. It’s incredible that a little idea from Walkamin has evolved intoaglobalopportunity.” ✷
LEFT AND ABOVE: Samples from Natural Evolution’s ever-expanding product range.
20 | Food&Drink business | November-December 2019 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au