When life came crashing down Peta Ryan was determined not to allow her body to let her down. Instead, she turned her attention to health and wellness, creating Actively Nourish.
Tell us a little bit about Actively Nourish.
Ultimately it was Actively Nourish that helped to save me in a period of time where many would become broken and left in a state of incomprehensible despair.
Actively Nourish is an Australian grown and owned nutraceuticals company. We are about nourishing health and wellness through simplicity and purity. We believe that slowly, through education, we are turning the supplement industry on its head by helping people realise that you can achieve your goals without the need for heavily processed and sometimes dangerous supplementation.
Where did the idea for Actively Nourish come from?
Your health and wellbeing is everything - if you haven’t that then what do you have? In 2014, after the birth of my third child, the fragility of life came to the forefront. He was diagnosed with a terminal genetic disease. There’s nothing like having your world turned upside down for you to take check of what really matters most. I decided I had to create change - but it had to start with me.
Actively Nourish was a seed that was planted then as I couldn’t find products I could easily use to support my wellbeing. Time was an issue, I was finishing my my uni degree, had three children to care for and had to add in hospital visits on the regular. I wasn’t perfect in my eating habits, I wasn’t sleeping well and movement had become purely incidental. I needed to curate something for those times where I wasn’t aiming for perfection but aiming to support and nurture my body. So Actively Nourish blossomed and the initial product, Renew, was developed.
I called on connections with small Australian farming families - of which I had access to after growing up on a self-sufficient farm. Small supply chains with connection to the country was at my core. Then over a period of five years I developed my product.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of owning your own business?
It’s pretty incredible to know that these products are helping enhance the wellbeing of people Australia wide, whilst also supporting Australian small producers. It has also offered me freedom, so that when I need to take a minute, to attend Westmead hospital or some other appointment with my son, I am not letting anyone else down.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey?
It was the manufacturing process and maintaining biochemical integrity of the incredible produce I had. It was also curating something that I actually enjoyed to consume. Financially it was a huge risk but even back then it reaffirmed that how you support your health and wellbeing should be worth every single dollar you spend.
What would you say is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?
For me it has been the award nominations, where clients or customers have nominated me for awards that recognise changemakers. I feel it shows just how much of a positive impact I am making with my small ripples! From Ausmumpreneur Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 to now a nomination for Women Changing the World award (a global award that aims to recognise women creating impactful positive change within their sectors). I'm a humble person but it's within these moments that my soul is lit on fire and my passion is ignited even more.
What’s the best piece of business advice that you have ever received?
Don’t place a monetary value on your integrity, because you will lose yourself along the way. This hits home for me on a daily basis. I could cut corners for more profit but this would be at the expense of my ethics.
You are undoubtedly busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain mental health? Taking care of myself in a holistic way through looking after my body through sound nutrition and movement will always be the game changer. I combine that with weekends off grid connecting with my little family.
Where do you envision yourself in five years?
I’d like to have established Actively Nourish hubs in some more rural communities, creating spaces of advocacy and education where people can take stock of their health and wellbeing. I’d also like to see the Actively Nourish products accessible to a wider community.
What’s on the horizon for Actively Nourish in 2023?
The focus is to reconnect - with remote communities through workshops and with suppliers and farming families that I haven’t been able to visit due to Covid restrictions. It's about keeping the foundations of the brand strong. We released our 13th product at the start of the year and will continue to develop some products - but all amazing products take time especially when we beta test for 14 months prior to release.
Location: Mudgee | NSW
Website: activelynourish.com
Instagram: activelynourish
Facebook: actively nourish