Low-carb keto company Locako launches into Chemist Warehouse

The global ketogenic diet food market is on an upward trajectory. During the forecast period from 2022 to 2027, it is projected to register a compound annual growth rate of 5.52 per cent, according to Research and Markets.

A ketogenic diet primarily consists of high fats, moderate proteins, and very low carbohydrates.

Russel Wilder first used the ketogenic diet to treat epilepsy in 1921, according to the National Library of Medicine. It states that for almost a decade, the ketogenic diet enjoyed a place in the medical world as a therapeutic diet for pediatric epilepsy and was widely used until its popularity ceased with the introduction of antiepileptic agents.

However, the ketogenic diet has had a resurgence as a rapid weight loss formula.

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Australian low-carb keto company Locako has launched a selection of its keto products into powerhouse pharmacy retailer Chemist Warehouse, giving the small homegrown business a big boost and catapulting the ketogenic diet into the mainstream.

To celebrate the launch, cocktails, canapés and keto treats were served to media and infleuncers at Empire Lounge in Sydney’s Rose Bay.

Locako Founder Ally Mellor said having her keto products in Chemist Warehouse was a sign of how mainstream the keto diet had become in Australia and showed how many Australians were embracing a low carb or low sugar lifestyle.

“Locako, which is derived from Low Carb Keto, was born out of a need to create clean, nutritious and genuinely keto-friendly products to support the growing number of Australians, including myself, on a ketogenic, low-sugar or low-carb diet. The keto craze started taking off in Australia around 2019 and by 2020, ‘keto’ was the number one Google searched food topic in the world. This year it’s estimated that one in 10* Australians tried keto and it’s the number one diet for Australian women,” Ally said.

“From our keto meal replacement shakes to collagen balls, we are all about making it easier for people to stick to a healthier diet even when they are busy or on-the-go. Eating nutritious meals that are high in good, clean fats, and low in carbs and sugar, can allow people to function at their best. Anyone who has tried a keto or low-carb diet knows it’s about so much more than just weight loss, it’s about clarity and energy and feeling good.”

Locako has been growing 400 per cent year-on-year since launching out of Ally’s Brisbane kitchen in 2017 and the Chemist Warehouse partnership is expected to increase revenue by 50 per cent.

“Launching into Chemist Warehouse is a big step for our small, Australian business – 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.

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.

Images from the launch event below.

*Finder research: www.finder.com.au/diet-statistics-australia

**Always read the label and follow directions for use. Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. If symptoms persist, consult a healthcare practitioner.