Food science innovation company Dr Red is the brainchild of Brisbane couple Katrina Orchard and Greg Jardine. After meeting in 2003, the pair embarked on a mission to turn their shared passion for the medicinal properties of food into a thriving business with a philanthropic purpose.
More than 8 years later, their best-selling range of natural, antioxidant-rich products based on ancient superfoods of the earth and sea is helping to improve the lives of thousands of Australians suffering from such chronic illnesses as prostate cancer, arthritis and metabolic syndrome.
The business has certainly come a long way from its humble beginnings as a small vineyard and olive grove in Mt Nebo. It was here that Greg first drew on his background in biochemistry to create the world’s healthiest wine. The first product to bear the “Dr Red” name, it captured 100 percent of the antioxidants normally discarded in traditional winemaking processes, resulting in a wine that contained three times more antioxidants than its mainstream counterparts.
The popularity of the range inspired the pair to commit to a major project of researching, formulating and testing food combinations with the potential to improve health, wellbeing and even treat serious illness.
The years that followed saw the range expand to include a prostate cancer-fighting ginger punch, a blueberry punch that killed cancer cells in clinical trials and a rosella punch effective against high blood pressure and cholesterol. A dedicated research arm of the business was also launched, Dr Red Nutraceuticals, which saw Greg and Katrina join forces with researchers at the University of Southern Queensland to test food’s effects on a range of health complaints including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
In 2008, Dr Red launched its Spearole Tea, a marriage of green tea and olive leaf extracts which was found to promote weight loss. Not surprisingly, it proved a hit with over 40 million cups sold to date. More innovative products followed in 2009, including an Olevine Ground Coffee and Olevine Purple Carrot range – another world first which has been proven to relieve arthritis in clinical trials.
In December of the same year, Dr Red received the Innovation Award at the Scientific Green Tea conference in Dubai. 2010 has brought further international recognition with the publication of Dr Red and USQ’s research in some of the world’s most prominent scientific journals including The British Journal of Nutrition and The American Journal of Nutrition and Carcinogenesis.
Now, with the launch of their super antioxidant purple carrot extract products, Greg and Katrina have established the brand as a global leader and food science innovator. Moving forward they remain passionate about raising awareness on the topic of food as medicine:
“We’re totally focused on researching the capabilities of our products and publishing evidence through research papers sponsored by the Dr Red Nutraceuticals business,” Greg said. “We want to continue bringing food based products straight from the farm to pharmacies all over Australia.”
