Our Story
Manuko is a specialist manufacturer, based on the Surfcoast of Victoria, passionate about crafting premium organic products and raw chocolate treats.
We’re on a mission to make extraordinary products that deliver moments of joy, a healthier life and a more sustainable world.
From our founder Matt:
“The initial seed of inspiration for Manuko came in 2007 when I was working in a corporate job in the CBD of Melbourne.
Feeling disillusioned with office life, and with a growing passion for health and wellbeing, I became increasingly aware of the lack of genuinely healthy, sustainable and delicious food options.
I felt there was a need for high quality food options that enable us to make choices that are great for our health, our taste buds and for the planet. While also connecting people with the growers behind the food we eat, just like I witnessed growing up on an organic and biodynamic dairy farm.
At the time, I wrote down the initial vision for Manuko and called it a “True Food Revolution”. I decided that year to turn down a career in the corporate world and follow a different path.
I completed studies in International business, and decided to travel the world, climbing volcanoes in Guatemala, living in a yurt in Switzerland, studying kung fu in China and meeting my now partner Inga in Sweden. I eventually landed back in Melbourne and it was 2012 when Manuko was officially born out of our 1 bedroom apartment.
It has been a winding journey, from the first delivery on my bike, to knocking on health food store doors, to 2015 doing our first Torquay farmers market. To 2017 quitting my part time job to go full time, with my partner quitting her full time job in 2018 to join the business.
The Manuko journey has gone from the home kitchen, to the spare bedroom, to a commercial kitchen, to a contract manufacturer, to a shared kitchen, to our first factory in Thornbury and finally to today, our factory on the Surfcoast.
The first delivery was done on my bike down the Merri Creek trail in Melbourne!
Manuko now has a small and dedicated team, without which none of what we do would be possible. Team work makes the dream work!
Our products are now stocked in over 150 stores across Australia and growing, and exports to Japan.
We’re privileged to be working with some amazing ingredients and suppliers, from our organic Peruvian cacao, to locally grown hazelnuts from the high country, to pure Damask rose essential oil, our locally harvested Australian sea salt and locally grown carob.
Manuko is a purpose driven business on a mission to contribute to a healthier and more inspiring future, which is why we’ve also committed to planting 10 trees a day with Trees for the Future.
We’re excited about the future and continuing to bring unique and extraordinary products to the world that bring joy to people’s lives.
Thanks for being part of the journey!”
Matthew Hardie - Founder and Director