Encapsulated probiotic drink a world first
Summary
In 2016 PERKii Pty Ltd was established, and later that same year the company released the worlds first low-calorie, non-carbonated fruit flavoured probiotic drink. Unlike similar products on supermarket shelves, PERKii\xae was neither fermented nor cultured.PERKii\xae provides a pleasant-tasting alternative to traditional fermented and dairy-based probiotic products and is just one application of UQs world-first ProGelTM encapsulation method that has the potential to revolutionise gut health on a global scale.UniQuest patented the ProGelTM technology, and in 2009, ProGel Pty Ltd received its first investment of $400,000 from UniSeed and Brisbane Angels. The initial business plan was to license the ProGelTM technology to a large beverage or yoghurt manufacturer.After five years, it became apparent that established food and beverage companies preferred to buy innovative companies with good sales records, rather than adopt transformational new technologies.With the support from shareholders, UniQuest, Uniseed and Brisbane Angels, ProGelTM decided to spin out the PERKii\xae probiotic drink opportunity into PERKii Pty Ltd.The PERKii\xae probiotic drink was created and trademarked, and patents were granted in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United States. PERKii\xae was nurtured by Woolworths start-up program WStart after the supermarket giant noticed a consumer shift towards functional drinks.PERKii Pty Ltd raised $4 million in Series A funding through Uniseed, Brisbane Angels and a series of sophisticated investors, to take PERKii\xae to the Australian market.Within two years, PERKii\xae became available in over 1,000 stores across Australia, including major supermarket chains Woolworths, IGA and Foodworks, and large health food outlets such as THRIVE, AboutLife and Go Vita.In 2017, PERKii Pty Ltd secured $1.5 million from the Queensland Governments Business Development Fund to increase production and expand sales.PERKii\xae is now available in more than 2,000 supermarkets, cafes and health food eateries across Australia, including Woolworths, Coles, Costco, and more than 500 food service outlets as well as Coles Express and Caltex outlets.In 2021, the company launched its 100% plant-based sparkling probiotic drinks, blended with natural flavours. PERKii\xae Sparkling contains the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium, the worlds best-documented strain.PERKii Pty Ltd is actively working to take the drink to the US, and then Japan, Hong Kong and China.