She took her simple idea from the kitchen and blended it into a smoothie empire.
But the journey for single mother Cinzia Cozzolino was far from easy after raising her two daughters for 12 years on an income of $30,000.
The 42-year-old, from Melbourne, was living off welfare and juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet when the idea to launch her health food business sprung into mind.
And fast forward seven years, the founder of Australian brand Smoothie Bombs is expected to turn over $1 million this year.
Mother Cinzia Cozzolino (pictured) has opened up about her smoothie business success
The founder of Australian brand Smoothie Bombs is expected to turn over $1 million this year
Before her business success, Ms Cozzolino worked as a cleaner, ran knitting classes, and even found herself running a book and jewellery stores.
‘I literally worked every job I could. I tried to wherever I could to put food on the table, and pay my bills,’ she told Sunrise.
Despite struggling financially, the mother always ensured her daughters were eating the most nutritious food possible.
But she was faced with a common parenting problem when her daughter Lana, who was a fussy eater, refused to have breakfast before school.
As the mother was studying at university to become a nutritionist, time slipped away from her when she was looking after her two daughters as well.
And so she decided to hand roll nuts, seeds and superfood ingredients into pre-portioned balls so her daughter could add blend it into her smoothie each day.
Her now ‘breakfast-eating’ 19-year-old daughter Lana (right) has teamed up with her mother to help run the family business
‘I had to get some good nutrients to her… So when I came up with this, I knew it was something that would work,’ she said.
After proving to be such a hit at home, the mother started hand rolling the boosters for her friends and local cafes.
‘Though each individual Smoothie Bomb is no longer hand rolled in our kitchen, they are still uncompromisingly produced at a family run factory,’ she said.
Her now ‘breakfast-eating’ 19-year-old daughter Lana has teamed up with her mother to help run the family business.
After proving to be such a hit at home, the mother started hand rolling the boosters for her friends and local cafes
The mother decided to hand roll nuts, seeds and superfood ingredients into pre-portioned balls so her daughter could blend it into her smoothie each day
‘I always say she’s actually the brain behind the business,’ Ms Cozzolino said.
‘I’m just the big ideas jumping around, screaming at certain things and she’d be like “right, okay Mum, this is the way you do it. She’s the nuts and bolts.’
For those interested to start their own business, she said: ‘The advice I would give anyone in that position, is to really find what your passion is and do it.
‘Don’t worry about your age. Your age is nothing. It’s your passion that you should be tapping into.’