A Christchurch mother and daughter have ambitious plans to turn their plant-based ‘milk’ concentrate products into a household name.

Jemma Turner and her mum Corinne started ‘Mylk Made’ after Jemma and her partner Max travelled overseas.

“I got the idea while living in Indonesia for 11 months. We visited a plant-based cafe that had a similar concept for making plant milk.”

“Returning home, I asked mum and dad if I could take over part of their shed, thankfully they said yes.”

Jemma said “the whole point of the company was to come up with a way to produce Mylk bases that are sustainable and waste-free, instead of buying plant mylk in a carton. “Just make what you need, when you need it.”

“I’m thankful my parents have owned a variety of businesses in the past, and their experience has been a huge help in every aspect.”

Jemma’s partner Max is a builder, and his skills were put to good use, transforming the shed into a certified commercial kitchen.

Mylk Made is sold as a smooth paste in glass jars.

The pastes are made from whole nut and seeds ground in a stone grinder (which is a cross between a food processor and concrete mixer.)

Mylk Made’s original range of bases comes in 6 different flavours: Nutty Oat, Rich Hazelnut, Absolute Almond, Coco-Nut, Hearty Hemp and Creamy Lavender.

When made up, the mylk has a variety of uses much like regular plant mylk that comes in a carton, including smoothies, cereal and baking.

Jemma said she’s having a great time running the business.

“It feels great to say I genuinely love my job – I’m really passionate about plant-based foods and sustainable living, along with having the desire to own my own business, so it feels like the perfect fit for me. “

“We would love for Mylk Made to become a household name, and for mylk bases to become the new normal.”

The company also offers a range of barista mylk bases that have been formulated especially for coffee; a unique, waste free plant mylk option that allows consumers to make their own plant mylk and steam.

The barista base range comes in four flavours; Almond, Almond/Coconut, Hazelnut and Macadamia.

To foam mylk for coffee, simply fill up your milk jug with 250ml of water, add 1Tbsp of barista base, and texture then pour.

Mylk Made mylk bases are all-natural; no gums, binders or additives. Just simple, real ingredients, unlike many other plant-based carton mylk options you find at supermarkets.

“Mylk Made bases are a cleaner and greener alternative, with sustainability a cornerstone of the business.”

Jemma said “we truly believe mylk bases are the way forward. You do not need any unnatural additives or preservatives like gums or binders in your plant mylk for it to taste good. In fact, we stand by it tasting better with less.”

“We are big believers in making the world a better place and living a life with less waste. Swapping out plant mylk cartons for a mylk base/concentrate in a reusable glass jar is a pretty great way to act on this.”

They also offer a jar return system. Purchase a return ticket on their website, and send your used (clean) jars back to them for a discount off your next order.

“At a small scale, the return system is working great so far, and it’s been very encouraging to have customers that are just as passionate about reusing and reducing their plant mylk waste.”

Jemma Turner said Mylk Made will have a big focus on the hospitality industry in 2022.

“The hospitality industry is one that we believe can influence real, positive change. The waste produced from plant mylk cartons in New Zealand is undeniably large, so to offer businesses a solution to this, Mylk Made is doing our part for the planet.”

“We are hoping to drive change in this sector, by not only offering our plant mylk bases in reusable buckets, but taking it further by developing a waste-free, circular system.”

Mylk Made mylk bases will be rolling out in select Countdown stores this year, after being one of five small businesses to win a spot in the Kete accelerator programme.

Along with some new flavours coming out soon, and some exciting new product development, 2022 is set to be a big year for the North Canterbury team.

Mylk Made is available at a variety of independent stores, Moore Wilsons, and select New Worlds, and www.mylkmade.co.nz. All enquiries to [email protected].