What does it take to build an Australian manufacturing business, and keep it growing for 17 years? Cass Spies, founder of Twisted Healthy Treats, tells us. She is the winner of the Thrive category at Westpac’s 2026 Female Founder Awards. Cass studied food technology, then spent 13 years in London’s financial services industry. She came home to Australia in 2009 with young children and a dream of her own business. She calls Twisted her fourth child. It began as a frozen yoghurt store in Bondi Beach, funded without outside investors and backed by the family home. Today it is a fully automated frozen dessert manufacturer in South-West Sydney. Twisted is in around 3,000 supermarket doors and more than 5,000 school canteens, and it exports to the USA, Taiwan, China, Korea and Singapore. We talk about the pivot that saved the business: a school mum’s request for yoghurt cups turned into a whole new path. We also cover the contract manufacturing mistake that cost her dearly, and the lesson about when to back your intuition. Cass shares how she went from 2 products in 30 Woolworths stores to 13 in 3,000, and what it took to land a Costco export order. She is also candid about melted shipping containers, working in a male-dominated industry, and why she now starts every day at the factory at 6am. Key takeaways: Be ready to pivot. Retail stores weren’t working, but customers kept taking tubs home. That became wholesale, then school canteens, then supermarkets.When a door won’t open, try a different door. Cass compares the pre-canteen years to “pushing on a door” that suddenly swung open.Not every opportunity is the right one. A contract manufacturer who misquoted costs and missed the spec led to a costly product deletion and brand damage.Chase wellness, not fads. Cass ignores TikTok flavour trends and bets on taste first.Ask for the meeting. A cold approach to a Woolworths freezer buyer led to 30 stores, then 100, then 200, then 3,000.Reliability wins retailers. On-time delivery and consistent quality led a Costco USA order.Plan for a long export runway. Cass’s first Costco USA order took 12-18 months, including dairy exporter accreditation.Right capital for the right product. Bootstrapping built the business, but partnering with a bank brought the funding structure the growth needed.Own your manufacturing. Making products in-house means no contract manufacturer’s margin, plus the agility to switch between export and domestic orders.Grow your people. Michelle, one of Cass’s first store employees, is now her right-hand woman. Show up. Greeting the production team at 6am has changed how the whole business runs.Your product has to taste incredible. Packaging earns the first purchase, but taste earns the second, third and fourth. Cass proves that a bold idea, relentless daily effort and the willingness to pivot can take a Bondi frozen yoghurt store all the way to supermarket freezers around the world. A big thank you to Cass for sharing her story, and congratulations again on the Thrive win. We are so excited to be partnering with Westpac again for Series 2 of the Fearless Females Podcast. Westpac has supported more than 2,000 female-led businesses, achieved its $1 billion commitment to women-led businesses in May 2026, and launched the Westpac Female Founder Awards. They are helping founders access the support, connections and confidence to take the next step. For those starting or growing a business, Westpac has tailored loans for start-ups and scale-ups. Fearless Females listeners can also get VIP access to dedicated bankers, to talk through business goals, funding options, cash flow and what support suits your stage of growth. To learn more or get connected, search “Westpac supporting female founders”. Eligibility, credit criteria, fees and charges, terms and conditions apply. General advice only. PS Make sure you support this amazing female founder and get some Twisted treats in your trolley at your local supermarket!
