Interview with Subo

I recently came across this clever new Australian brand Subo. Julie-Anne is a mum of three who created the Subo food bottle.My girls had their yoghurt and custard in the Subo and they loved it, as did I. No mess, easy to use while your out. I caught up with Juile-Anne to find out more about this wonderful new product. Hope you enjoy her interview.

Tell us how Subo all began?

My husband and I used to spend out Friday nights pureeing and mashing food for our two young children. Then when we went out for the day, my only option to feed them my homemade food was a spoon and bowl which was not ideal if I was in a hurry or we were on a long road trip. Many times the kids and I would end up wearing most of the contents. Especially frustrating when we were on our way to an event where I didn’t want them to get food on their “special” clothes. They couldn’t handle the squeezie pouches as they would not let me feed them (love toddler independence!) and they would just squeeze them and it would end up all over them, the pram, the car seat, the plane seat, the trolley or wherever we were.  Then the re-usable squeezie pouches were just coming into the market overseas. We tried these and they were just too hard to clean, too hard to get all the food out, and again the same problem with squeezing all the contents out and not in their mouth. I wanted something like a drink bottle but for food that they couldn’t squeeze, was easy to clean and re-usable. That was 4 years ago. 

How do we use Subo and what can we put in there?

Subo has a moving platform inside the bottle that moves as you suck the food out. It pushes the food out as you suck. When you stop sucking the food stops coming out. Sucking is the strongest reflex that children are born with and its very simple and easy.

Food that can be used in Subo include, yoghurt, smoothie, custard, ice-cream, jelly, quick oats, farrax, soup, soft spaghetti, puree and mashed foods, mousse, and milkshakes. Any food that comes in a squeezie pouch can be used in Subo.

Who can use it?

Anyone can use Subo from 6 months plus. We have babies using them for a quick on the go snack or meal in the car, pram, plane, trolley or at the park, children that use them at kinder and school, professionals that use Subo for breakfast yoghurt, smoothie or oats while driving to work, on public transport and bicycles.  We also have elderly peopleand those with facial surgery using Subo if they have a diet of vitamised and soft food.

Where is it made?

Subo is 100% Australian made and owned. We manufacture in Melbourne. 

What's next for Subo?

We are currently developing accessories for Subo. A freezer pod where you can make bulk food to freeze then pop them in Subo over night to defrost ready for the next day, a funnel and a thermo jacket to keep food cold or warm. We also have other products that are being conceptualised at the moment. So stay tunned! We are going to be around for a long time. 

A bit more about Subo

We had two non-negotiables while developing Subo.

1. It was to be made from the highest quality material

2. To be Australian made and not to go off shore for manufacturing

I’m proud to say that we have achieved both.

Additionally, while developing Subo we have had the support from both the State and Federal governments through theirgrants programs. The first from the Department of Innovation and Business as an Innovation Grand, the second from Commercialisation Australia for skills and knowledge and the third from Accelerating Commercialisation for Commercialising Subo. All grants were written and applied for by ourselves. We didn’t have a third party writing the grant application for us. To date we have achieved everything ourselves while both working full time and having three young kids that are now 2, 5 & 6.  I guess I just wanted to show other mums and dad that you can do something, if you believe it and are prepared to work really hard. Just believe in yourselves and follow your dreams.  

Thank you so much for sharing Julie-Anne, You have a fantastic product.

Subo is priced at $29.95 can be purchased here

Christina xx