1. How was Franjo’s Kitchen born?
Franjo’s Kitchen really started when Fran (the Fran to the Jo) was experiencing issues with breastfeeding. We were two new mums taking our babies for a walk on a sunny afternoon and got chatting at a set of traffic lights. As the lights turned green we went for a walk and this very instant and organic friendship began. At the time I still worked as a Naturopath in clinic and Fran shared with me that she had been working on some homemade lactation biscuits. We swapped out some ok ingredients with some amazing ingredients to improve the level of nourishment. After two weeks of experimenting with recipes Fran saw a real business idea. As new mums we’d heard so many stories of women having difficulty breastfeeding but there wasn’t really a clean, high quality and commercial solution out there. So, my new friend and I of 2 weeks started a business! We initially thought it would just be an online business hence the cylinder packaging but by the 6 to 9 month mark we were getting numerous calls from retailers asking how they could purchase our product for stores and soon had 90 stockists. There wasn’t much in the lactation or even the maternal nutrition space and everyone started to really see the value of our brand.2. What has been your biggest motivation in the creation of your brand?
Our biggest motivation would be finding that solution to the problem. Many mums struggle with milk, they struggle with mental fatigue, struggling with mental health and struggle with nutrition and putting themselves first. When it comes down to it we are a brand of mums producing for mums. We not only wanted something clean, nourishing and was designed to produce galactagogues to boost milk supply but something that was just nice for mums to enjoy with a cup of tea. Hence, the beautiful packaging and what we stand for as a business. Mums need both internal and external nourishment.
3. You’re a busy mum, are there any particular things you do to maintain your physical and mental health?
It may not be of popular opinion, and I know most mums always put their families first. I’m probably a bit more selfish in that I really value movement, exercise and training which is an absolute priority and my family even notices when I don’t get that time in. Sometimes it’s a walk, a swim or a bike ride, just something everyday that encourages me to move my body. I’m a naturopath so naturally, nutrition and supplements are part of my daily routine and I take a bucket load of vitamins to fuel myself. I also prioritise sleep and the ability to say no, spending time with the people you want to makes an enormous difference. In combination I love the way it makes me feel and feeling good is addictive. As fluffy as it sounds, I also like to be a good example to my kids that mental and physical health is so important to live a well life 4. What was your product development process like?
The product development process began in both mine and Fran’s kitchen in between our babies sleep cycles. We also lived a street apart so after I’d cook up a batch and run them around the corner for Fran to try. We played around with formula’s quite a bit and eventually had a factory make a few batches and decided to trial selling them on a local mums and bubs Facebook group. 200 bags sold in the blink of an eye and we both personally drove around handing out our little bag of biscuits to mums in the inner west of Melbourne.5. Can you identify any big hurdles Franjo’s has had to overcome?
One big mistake we made in the product development phase was making a product that was almost too high quality and not commercially viable. I was using products that were way too expensive and almost unnecessary to the nutritional profile. But we learnt this along the way and were able to easily adopt better suited ingredients. Our product isn’t too far away but the original formulation but it’s something we’re mindful about. Our biggest hurdle, no questions asked, has been cash flow. We started the company with very little money and Fran and I went halves on all invoices, ingredients and all the rest of it. We went along as we could for a long time. I think most people can recognise that businesses take time to grow and we’re still fairly new, but I do think that we could have done some things differently in the early days if we had some cash to back us up. But in saying that, Fran and I have 6 children between us, we were extremely busy, often exhausted and things really happen for a reason. The only way to the end is to push through and we’re pushing through!6. Tell us about your new product!
It all started with Fran sending me a link to Arepa and their new nootropic formula. We wanted a product that worked on brain function, nervous system, adrenal glands and energy but made specially for mums. I’m a big fan of mushrooms and have always wanted to use them in a formula, cordyceps are perfect for endurance, so it was always going in there. Motherhood is an endurance test every single day! The faba bean protein is grown and manufactured in a purpose built factory near the town where I grew up and we’re passionate about supporting amazing local farms and businesses. Fran is also from New Zealand and has a connection to Arepa, further supporting local businesses. To summarise this amazing formula, we have Blackcurrant that is packed with antioxidants and has been known to help with cognitive performance. L-theanine, found in green tea, gives you a nice yet calm buzz without the negative effects of caffeine and has also shown to help symptoms of anxiety. Enzogenol from pine bark extract has been found to support healthy brain function, performance, mental clarity and focus. Combined with the faba bean protein, maca, raw cacao powder, mushroom and nootropics, it’s a very functional blend with real purpose. 
