From Melbourne pantry to national shelves: Aunty Jenny spices up independent grocers

Just four months after officially launching in Melbourne’s CBD, homegrown spice brand Aunty Jenny is heading national.

The ethical pantry label, founded by Melbourne entrepreneur Evangeline Tee and co-founder Ramneek Wayne, has secured its largest retail expansion to date, rolling out across independent grocers including IGA and Ritchies – bringing its “no nasties, no middlemen” philosophy to shelves across the country.

For a brand that began with one daughter trying to cook for her mother, the move marks a significant milestone.

Aunty Jenny was born from a simple frustration. Ms Tee’s mother, Jenny – who inspired the company’s name – loved flavour but struggled with overly hot, heavily processed supermarket spice blends.

“My mum was visiting, and we opened up the pantry to cook her something, but there was nothing in there she could have,” Ms Tee previously told CBD News.

“She loves food, but we had no products that made the distinction between chilli, which is heat level, and spicy, which brings this strong flavour to food.”

Unable to find pure, pesticide-conscious options that delivered depth without overwhelming heat, Ms Tee began exploring direct sourcing from growers in India and Malaysia. The result was a brand built around transparency, freshness and fair trade — sourcing directly from farmers, reducing intermediaries and packing spices within weeks of harvest.

That model now underpins its national expansion.

Co-founder Ramneek Wayne said the rollout reflected growing demand from independent retailers for pantry staples that combined strong margins with clear differentiation.

“Independent grocers are highly discerning when it comes to product quality, consistency and supply reliability – they’re also price sensitive,” Mr Wayne said.

“The products each make four meals and have a RRP starting at $2.60 to ensure they are easily accessible. This rollout reflects the confidence retailers have in our ability to deliver a differentiated range that performs on shelf, backed by robust systems and transparent sourcing.”

The range includes core blends such as Butter Chicken, Mild Curry, Garam Masala and Peri Peri Tandoori – developed through long-term grower partnerships and rigorous quality testing. Each blend is designed for both vegetarian and vegan cooking, packaged in resealable pouches aimed at reducing waste.

The national push follows what the founders describe as a period of “operational and retail readiness” – ensuring supply chains, warehousing and distribution systems were robust enough to scale.

It is a notable achievement for a Melbourne startup launched less than a year ago at Elchi restaurant in the CBD, where civic and business leaders gathered to celebrate what Cr Rafael Camillo described at the time as “a celebration of everything Melbourne stands for – diversity, innovation, and connection through food.”

For Ms Tee, the growth is about more than retail footprint. Born in Malaysia, educated across China, Scotland and Australia, she has spoken openly about stepping out from behind-the-scenes roles to build something of her own in an industry where women remain underrepresented.

“There are a lot of women doing the work quietly. They just haven’t had the platform yet,” she said ahead of the product’s launch last year.

“It’s not just about launching a business – it’s about being counted.”

Her journey into entrepreneurship followed what she has described as a difficult personal period that ultimately gave her the confidence to step forward.

There was a time period where I was really struggling. I hit the bottom, and it was actually very freeing,” she said. “At that moment, it was like an invitation to do whatever the hell I wanted. I decided to just get on with it.

That mindset now sits at the heart of Aunty Jenny’s rapid ascent – a brand rooted in family, fairness and flavour, but built with commercial discipline.

As jars and pouches begin appearing on independent grocery shelves nationwide – including locally here in Melbourne – the founders say further range extensions and in-store activity are planned throughout 2026. •