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This conversation with Cale Drouin of Cale & Daughters is all about the obstacles, opportunities and learnings in mainstreaming delicious plant-based food in Australia.

Of course there is huge value in what Cale shares for my international listeners too. I found it fascinating to learn just what is involved in getting product on the shelves of our two major players in the supermarket space, Woolworths and Coles.

I ask, is it all about consumer demand and profit? Or do large companies have a growing awareness and recognised responsibility to stock more sustainable, ethical products?

This is not an endeavour for the faint hearted. Cale is relentless.

There is serious capital involved and daunting hoops to jump through. I asked Cale to share his hard learnt lessons form the early days trying to get placement in smaller independent grocers, to his success now with high-visibility retail brands – like Made With Plants, PlantAsia, and Get Plant’d – that are sold in Coles and Woolworths stores nationwide.

Founded in 2019, Cale & Daughters has made a major contribution to the way plant-based food is perceived by everyday consumers in Australia. They create, produce, and distribute a broad range of plant-based food.

In fact they have recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Brisbane as part of a joint venture with Vgarden – one of Israel’s largest agricultural co-operatives.

Cale and I cover all this and more. A quick note, Cale was on a well deserved 2-day (!) break after weeks of 15 hour days getting a new product to market so this Zoom call via mobile has more background noise than I would love.

Regardless, please enjoy this conversation with Cale Drouin of Cale & Daughters…

In this conversation we discuss:

• The evolution of Cale & Daughters.
• Working with Woolworths and Coles to grow Australia’s plant-based market. 
• What might surprise our listeners about how receptive these giant companies are to plant-based products.
• Does Cale think companies have a growing awareness / responsibility to stock more sustainable, ethical products?
• The importance of failing quickly.
• What does Cale see as the biggest challenges for Australia’s plant-based market?
• Cale & Daughter’s recent joint venture with Israel’s Vgarden.
• The disruption of international supply chains. 

Although Cale was careful in NOT proclaiming huge excitement for the next couple of years in plant-based business I found it genuinely hopeful to hear him declare (both during and after our recording) that he believes the decision makers at Woolworths and Cole “get it.”

That has to be heartening. Even though there are certainly tough roads ahead for some of the mass influx of products that have made their way onto our shelves I’m going to believe that there are good people in positions of power who are committed to a future that is profitable, sustainable, delicious AND ethical. 

It might not happen in the timeframe that I would love however the future is undeniably plant-based.

To connect with Cale and keep abreast of ALL the exciting new products Cale & Daughters is bringing to market I have you all linked up in the show notes below.

Check out Cale & Daughters across the socials: Linked In | YouTube.

Also via the website:

That’s it for this week in Healthification. If you’re yet to rate, review and subscribe please do! It counts big time in letting this little show – and the amazing guests I get to chat with achieve some visibility among the millions of podcasts out there.

Big thanks to YOU for sharing this week with me.

Exciting news! My Plant Positive Journal is the proud NEW sponsor of The Healthification podcast.

Perhaps you are plant-based curious? Maybe you are already vegan but need a healthier approach to nutrition?

In this daily journal you will learn how to consistently prioritize food, exercise and other healthy habits that build on each other to have a compounding and lasting effect.

To help you create a BODY and LIFE you LOVE by successfully managing your TIME and your MIND.

It makes a great gift to YOU! Or, for the loved one who would benefit from some support managing their time and their MIND. Even better, the loved one who is vegan curious or who has been a valuable vegan ally to you.

To learn more check out: strongbodygreenplanet.com/journal

With love and gratitude plant friends.

Till next time, remember Creating a body and life you love is Freedom. (If this ex-refined-carb queen, non genetically gifted, naturally uncoordinated vegan chick can do it – so can YOU!!!)

If you liked “Cale & Daughters is Creating Delicious Plant-Based Food and Bringing Friends and Families Together.” you’ll also like Tofurky and Creating Delicious Plant Food While Focusing on Purpose Over Profits with Seth Tibbott.

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