Whilst many diet trends enjoy a brief period of popularity only to fade into obscurity a relatively short-while later, the ketogenic diet is still ranked amongst the most popular in Australia, along-side gluten-free and vegetarian diets. In fact, the keto diet which is characterised by a diet high in fats and extremely low in carbs, generates around 115,000 online searches a month in Australia alone, and 25.4 million searches globally a year. Considering followers of the keto diet report success with everything from weight loss, improved cholesterol levels, improved insulin resistance and blood sugar control, lower blood pressure and even reduced epileptic seizures it’s easy to explain its huge popularity.

So, with this in mind, it’s perhaps not surprising that Aussie mum of two, and Locako founder Ally Mellor’s keto meal replacement shake completely sold out within 3 days of going on sale last year. The brand, which started with humble beginnings in Ally’s Brisbane kitchen in 2017 has grown an incredible 400 per cent year-on-year. Ally, who has been on the keto diet herself for over a decade and whose pioneering range of keto products includes Australia’s first collagen snack bar and coffee creamer, has been blown away by the success which has recently included a partnership with Chemist Warehouse.

Locako products now available in Chemist Warehouse include the chocolate and strawberry keto meal replacement shakes, keto collagen brownie balls in Peanut Butter Jelly, Macadamia White Chocolate and an exclusive new Caramel Cookie Dough flavour, as well as the first keto vitamins to be listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods – Keto Support* (AUST L 380078), Keto Essential* (AUST L 382516) and Keto Repair* (AUST L 387612), which are designed to support the body in ketosis.

Ally puts the success down to seeing a gap in the market. For her, it wasn’t enough to simply produce keto-friendly products, she wanted to offer clean and nutritious options.

“While there are some ‘keto’ options out there,” Ally explains, “they often contain pea protein,  which has too many carbs, and sugar is too high up the ingredients list to support ketosis, so we wanted to ensure there was a genuine keto product for the growing number of Australian’s on the ketogenic diet.”

“Meal replacement shakes are growing in popularity as a weight management tool, and even if someone isn’t aiming for ketosis, we hope that our trusted keto label will make these shakes appealing as a healthy, filling meal replacement.”

“One of the reasons people like genuine keto products is because they know they are low in carbs and usually have low or no sugar,” Ally explains. “Locako prides itself on being Australia’s original and cleanest keto brand so people know our meal replacement shakes are the real deal. There are no artificial sweeteners and nothing fake – just natural, clean, nutritious ingredients such as MCT oil to support ketosis, collagen to support skin and gut health, greens to make up for lost carb-heavy vegetables, magnesium to ease cravings, probiotics and probiotics to give the gut a boost, and lots of vitamins and minerals.”

“Launching into Chemist Warehouse is a big step for our small, Australian business,” Ally explains. “It is a very exciting time for Locako and all our local partners. Coming off the back of the pandemic, it is wonderful to see our manufacturers in Sydney and Brisbane in full swing and solidly booked with demand to fill orders for Chemist Warehouse,” she said.

As Australia’s pioneering low-carb and keto brand, Locako was the first in Australia to launch collagen snack bars and coffee creamers with MCT oil and pasture-raised collagen. Locako now offers more than 50 clean, healthy and nutritious products including collagen mousse, monk fruit sweetener, keto meal replacement shakes, keto powders, keto vitamins, and a beauty range which features native ingredients, such as Kakadu plum, sourced from indigenous communities.

For more information visit locako.com.au or to shop the range visit chemistwarehouse.com.au

Disclaimer: This article is for informational use only and does not constitute medical advice. We recommend discussing any change in diet with a medical professional. Always read the label and follow directions for use. Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. If symptoms persist, consult a healthcare practitioner.