TRENOS SiGINT: Sydney’s Plant-Based Microbrands Step Into Fine Food Australia Spotlight

JC Analyst -September, 2025

Signal:

A curated cluster of plant-based startups ranging from desserts to brain drinks are exhibiting at or leveraging proximity to the Fine Food Australia Expo (8–11 Sept). These brands signal a quiet evolution in the alt-protein landscape, less “fake meat,” more lifestyle-aligned product verticals targeting everyday eaters.

Human Factor:

The shift here is psychological. These aren’t brands trying to save the world one pea protein patty at a time. They’re feeding real people in real fridges with products looking good, tasting better, and slotting easily into daily routines. Whether it's FLCK giving up Red Bull vibes without the jitters, or LILO turning fruit waste into frozen indulgence, the message is simple - plant-based doesn’t have to mean preachy.

TRENOS Metrics Snapshot

Metric	Value
Signal	Plant-based brand diversification at Fine Food Australia
Data Point	5 emerging brands identified with retail or expo strategy
TikTok Views	LILO & FLCK reels: 50K+ combined (growing)
Retail Footprint	Made With Plants in 500+ Coles stores; LILO recently in Woolworths QLD
Ingredient Format	Coconut cream, chickpea, soy, botanicals, nootropics
Product Range	Frozen desserts, deli meats, snacks, drinks, pantry staples
Consumer Segment	Millennials, Gen Z, flexitarians
Brand Origin	NZ (LILO), AU (FLCK, Made With Plants, Snack Proud, Whole Earth)
Export Status	LILO cross-Tasman; others AU‑based with expansion potential
Trend Classification	Function-forward, flex-friendly, lifestyle-integrated
System Pressure Point	Retail convergence + consumer demand for everyday functionality

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