A health issue prompted Janessa Rutter to take a harder look at her diet and research healthy alternatives that didn’t compromise on taste. However, when she began to share her gluten free and refined sugar free recipes on Instagram, the idea for her business, Bask & Co., was born.
With friends and family unable to get enough of her almond and coconut granola, Janessa took a leap of faith and, with help from her Instagram following, she secured a placement for Bask & Co. granola with her first IGA supermarket.
Janessa said at the beginning there was a lot of learning researching business requirements and balancing business growth with the demands of a young family. Despite the inevitable challenges, you can now find Bask & Co. products on supermarket shelves across Australia.
Never sell anything you don’t find delicious
From her original, delicious, gluten free and processed sugar free almond and coconut granola, the Bask & Co. range has grown to include different flavours, granola bars and gluten-free porridge.
All subject to Janessa’s rigorous standards to ‘never sell anything you don’t find delicious’. Care, time, effort and testing recipes over and over until they are both healthy and delicious is at the heart of every product in Bask & Co.’s range. Knowing her market well has been a key factor in product development and testing.
Online growth
Janessa’s business took another step forward recently with an engaging and attractive new website, developed with the help of funds from her successful Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant application. The new website is helping to transform Janessa’s business, with online orders growing by 500% in 2024.
“I’ve learned a lot about being clear about what your unique selling point is. A beautiful website and online marketing can give your customers the opportunity to engage and be drawn into your story and what you’re about – the scalability of online is almost limitless,“ Janessa said.
Tenacity, vision and a support network
A positive, tenacious approach, despite the emotional effort of creating a new business, has helped Janessa stay focused on seeing her business thrive. A strong vision of what her business goals look like has seen Bask & Co. achieve a long-term goal this year, with products now being stocked in more than 200 independent retailers nationally and 80 Woolworths Metro stores across 4 Australian states.
Janessa said that informal networks of business peers, particularly other women-owned food businesses, have been invaluable in sharing advice, support and opportunities. While more formal networks such as Seedlab and Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) provide a connection and guidance based on experience and collaboration.
With the structure of her business changing, Janessa said she was excited to explore the range of opportunities and support available in Brisbane such as the Suburban Business Hub and Brisbane Business Hub workshops, resources and events.
“I’m excited about the future for Bask & Co. based here in Brisbane. I feel like we’ve hit our stride now and as we grow and change our ideas about what is possible, there’s no limits as to where we can go,” Janessa said.
Bask & Co. has come a long way in 8 years from its origins on Instagram and will continue to develop its range of healthy and delicious products providing customers with a healthy and delicious gluten free choice.