At just 30 years old, Cian Dawson co-founded GYM BOD, a health-conscious ice cream company that has earned back-to-back spots on the Australian Financial Review Fast Starters list. From its humble beginnings in a Toowoomba garage, the company has become one of Australia's fastest-growing businesses.
The idea for GYM BOD Ice Cream was born in 2018 when Cian and her partner, Courtney, were living in Toowoomba, Queensland. They loved ice cream but struggled to find a product that fit into their active, health-focused lifestyle.
“We wanted to eat ice cream every day without compromising our health,” Cian explains.
But rather than settle for the low-calorie ice creams available at the time, Courtney bought a $99 soft-serve machine on eBay and began experimenting with making healthier, high-protein ice cream at home. What started as a personal project quickly became a business idea as the couple realised they weren’t alone in wanting a healthier ice cream alternative.
A game-changer
Despite having no formal background in food science, Cian and Courtney were determined to turn their passion into a business.
“We knew we wanted to turn this idea into a business right from the start,” Cian says.
“We knew there had to be thousands of other health-conscious millennials like us, who wanted ‘better for you’ ice cream products readily available.”
Their initial vision was to have a GYM BOD soft-serve van stationed on every major beach in Australia, but the couple soon learned that starting an ice cream business wasn’t for the faint-hearted.
Their first foray into the market involved a food truck. The early days were challenging, with their first day of trading under the Sydney Harbour Bridge earning them only 67 cents per hour. However, they persevered and began to refine their model. By targeting gyms and fitness communities, they found a niche market that appreciated their healthier approach to ice cream.
Unfortunately, just as things were starting to pick up, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shutting down their soft-serve business overnight. But the couple was already working on a contingency plan. With their customers asking where they could buy the ice cream outside of the weekends, the duo began transitioning to ice cream tubs. This shift turned out to be a game-changer.
Turning challenges into triumph
The first major milestone came when they secured a trial with Coles. Starting with 70 stores on the east coast, GYM BOD soon became available nationwide.
“GYM BOD ice cream is available in [over] 2000 locations including Coles, Woolworths Metro, Woolworths NZ, Ampol Foodary, Coles Express and IGAs across Australia and NZ, and we even export ice cream to the Middle East,” Cian says.
However, the couple was aware that running a business was not just about having a good product. “Every day, every week, every month we take steps to improve our business,” Cian explains. Whether it’s new product development, improving margins, or increasing manufacturing efficiency, constant iteration has been key to their success.
GYM BOD's growth has been nothing short of explosive. In 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 500 per cent , the company earned a spot on the Australian Financial Review Fast Starters list and, in November 2024, was recognised on the list once again.
Education key to success
Cian acknowledges that her education played a significant role in her ability to navigate the complexities of running a business. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Honours in Gender Studies from the University of Melbourne, Cian took a graduate job in Sydney working for a large infrastructure services company. However, she quickly realised she lacked the business knowledge necessary for long-term success, especially when it came to understanding financials like Profit and Loss (P&L) statements.
“I realised I was less familiar with a P&L than required, so I enrolled in the UniMelb Grad Cert in Business in 2018,” Cian says.
“The GCB at UniMelb equipped me with the language, framework and theory to understand business challenges in today’s environment.”
The Graduate Certificate in Business not only provided her with the business fundamentals she needed but also served as a practical tool, as many of the projects she worked on during her studies became part of GYM BOD's foundational business plans.
“Having an actual business to develop alongside my business education was highly effective for me and made me go the extra mile in assignments and study as I knew I was doing it for our business,” she says.
The future of GYM BOD
Looking ahead, Cian is full of ambition. "We want to see GYM BOD products on every supermarket shelf around the world," she says. GYM BOD’s future looks bright. The company, which began in a Toowoomba garage, is now a global venture.
Cian says she hopes her story will inspire others to pursue their passions.
I hope my story can encourage other people to take the risk on themselves, complete extra study in a new field and find a new passion or purpose.
As GYM BOD continues to expand, it’s clear that Cian and Courtney’s entrepreneurial journey is only just beginning.