Going for the gut: Tapping the probiotic drink trend

As soft drink sales continue to fall, increasing numbers of probiotic drinks are hitting the shelves.

Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria which it is claimed help colonise our guts leading to improving a range of bodily functions from mood and stress levels, to weight and cravings for food.

Andrew Rush, the co-founder of "functional beverage" company Kreol, says it's not enough for a drink to just quench your thirst anymore.

"People are looking for drinks with purpose, rather than you are thirsty and have a drink, they are looking for drinks that serve a purpose for your wellbeing," he says.

Using vinegar to make sparkling

Rush runs Kreol with his sister-in-law Chloe producing probiotic and prebiotic drinks made using apple cider vinegar which they brew in small batches on a bio-dynamic farm on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.

The pair had no experience in the beverages industry but after running cafes in Melbourne and "reading a couple of books on gut health" they spotted an opportunity.

After one year in business Kreol is now stocked in over 350 cafes and wholefood stores around Australia, New Zealand and Singapore with turnover last year of $400,000. Read more

Cara Waters - Brisbane Times - 4 Feb 2018