Big ideas a winner

Like many business owners, Karen Lindsay has been forced to adapt during the COVID-19 crisis.

The owner of Wamuran’s Little White Goat Cheese and new business Luv Handles is a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards, presented by The Women’s Business School, in the categories of Food and Beverage, and Big Idea respectively.

Adversity leads to innovation

She says the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak resulted in the loss 95 percent of her restaurant trade overnight, but gave her the chance to focus on a world-first new cheese product she had long wanted to make.

“It’s a world-first freeze-dried goat’s cheese feta and it wasn’t trial and error – I was really happy with it right from the first batch,” Karen says.

While other producers have made freeze-dried cheddar, Karen says no one has manufactured freeze-dried feta.

“I had the idea, but I had never done anything about it, so when all the restaurants shut, it gave me the chance to give it a go.”

Long shelf life

The result is a product that needs no refrigeration, has an 18-month shelf life, retains all the nutrients of fresh feta and tastes amazing, Karen says.

“Fresh goat feta is just wonderful – so tasty, creamy and can live in your fridge for a few days once opened.

“But imagine…if you have freeze-dried goat feta in your pantry you have a product that has an 18-month shelf life. It has a fabulous creamy taste.”

While her new feta has taken off, Karen’s also been working on another business idea she’s had percolating for some time.

Trolley revolution

Luv Handles has earnt her a finalist’s place in the Big Idea category of the AusMumpreneur awards.

It’s not food, but it is related to the food industry.

“I’d be at the supermarket and I’d see kids chewing on the handles of trolleys,” Karen says.

“I thought there had to be a way to create a cover.”

She bounced her idea off Roz White from White’s IGA supermarkets on the Sunshine Coast, and got the thumbs-up.

“She loved the idea,” Karen says. “She was telling me that the hand sanitiser she uses has bleached the colour from her floors where it dripped – so having kids chewing on trolley handles where it’s been used is not ideal.”

Reusable covers

The idea – reusable handles that attach to trolleys, offering a sanitary protective barrier. They simply clip on, remove easily and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Luv Handles come in two types – one is a two-part handle for a standard supermarket trolley and the second is telescopic so it can adjust to fit coin-operated trolleys and airport luggage trolleys, as well as adapt to use as a handle to pull luggage along.

Manufacturing starts in October, with pre orders opening this week.

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