Health Food Symmetry eyes public debut with $2 million raise to shake up gut health market

• Health Food Symmetry looks to disrupt gut health market with world’s first sugarcane-derived whole-plant prebiotic
• Company undertaking a $2 million funding round ahead of a planned listing
• Independent studies and clinical trials with leading Australian universities show benefits of the prebiotic

Special Report: Health Food Symmetry (HFS) founder and CEO Gordon Edwards, the creator of PhytoBiome, is confident the world’s first sugarcane-derived, whole-plant prebiotic is set to disrupt the gut health market as the company undertakes a $2 million funding round ahead of a planned listing. 

The former marine engineer from Mossman in North Queensland and his wife Janine embarked on the journey to establish HFS more than a decade ago.

“One of the reasons I became a marine engineer was because I was fisherman in the Gulf of Carpentaria and wanted to build my own trawlers,” Edwards told Stockhead.

“I ran into a Japanese guy in Cairns, and we went to Japan to try and sell prawns to restaurants, but it was logistically impossible when we realised, they don’t have freezers.”

While in Japan, Edwards was offered technology to use bagasse — the fibrous residue left after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice — as a dietary fibre.

“It was ascertained through our pilot program in North Queensland that the milling process removed all the phytonutrients and the bioactives in the sugarcane plant,” he said.

Through analysis of the whole sugarcane plant, Edwards and his wife realised the key was preserving its complete natural structure.

The couple moved to Ayr in North Queensland in 2015 – Australia’s main sugarcane region –and developed technology to remove only the sugar while retaining the plant’s natural fibre and phytonutrient benefits.

“We managed to remove just the sugar and mother nature has done the rest for us,” Edwards said.

‘We are going to be a disruptor’

Today, HFS proprietary PhytoBiome stands as a proprietary prebiotic phytonutrient fibre extract derived from sugarcane, uniquely manufactured to preserve the plant’s natural cell wall structure and bioactive compounds.

Edwards said the advanced process delivers a complete cellular fibre profile that mirrors whole-plant dietary sources, like vegetables.

“It ferments gradually throughout the gut, supporting balanced microbial activity and consistent production of short-chain fatty acids – key gut and metabolic health markets recognised in emerging nutritional science.”

He is confident PhytoBiome will be a disruptor as knowledge about the importance of gut microbiome continues to grow along with a push to restore nutritional value in processed foods.

Building on the original PhytoBiome, the company has developed three other products including:

• PhytoCel – a ready ingredient for food manufacturers to use in baked goods and snack
• Kfibre – a low-FODMAP, not genetically modified, gluten-free powder to be added to food and liquids
• PhyteQuine – to support gut health in performance, working and companion horses

Another companion animal product PhytoCanis is under development.

“We are going to be a disruptor and why we are going to be a disruptor is because we’re definitively the best prebiotic on the market,” he said.

“That has been proven by studies and a whole bunch of peer-reviewed publications due to come out in the next 12 months.”

Research underscores gut and metabolic health benefits

HFS has completed a series of independent studies and clinical trials with leading Australian universities, showing benefits of PhytoBiome in supporting gut, metabolic, and digestive health.

Research at Macquarie University found that PhytoBiome preserves microbial diversity — unlike wheat dextrin and psyllium — while enhancing antioxidant potential and promoting beneficial Bifidobacterium growth linked to IBD remission.

A University of Tasmania clinical trial reported a 20–25% reduction in heartburn and indigestion symptoms within three weeks.

Additional animal studies at the University of Tasmania found PhytoBiome reduced inflammation in both acute and chronic IBD models, boosted beneficial gut bacteria, and improved colonic health.

Studies at the University of Queensland showed significantly higher butyric acid production, linked to reduced inflammation and improved weight control.

Further analysis by Southern Cross University identified sugarcane fibre to be a rich source of insoluble fibre, lignin and micronutrients with potential to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, IBD and cardiovascular disease.

Monash University validated sugarcane fibre supplementation tolerance among IBS patients, showing improved bowel function and hydration on a low-FODMAP diet.

Independent trials also demonstrated 76% greater weight loss in females and 56% in males on Kfibre versus control.

Participants recorded reduced waist circumference, improved blood sugar control (lower HbA1c levels), decreased LDL cholesterol, and reduced inflammation — key markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health.

‘New benchmark in functional fibre science’

RMIT Associate Dean, Head of Department-Biology School of Science, Professor Raj Eri – who led studies into Phytobiome during his time at the University of Tasmania – said virgin sugarcane prebiotics represent a “new benchmark in functional fibre science”.

“These complex, slow-fermenting fibres consistently outperform traditional isolates such as psyllium and wheat dextrin across key indicators — short-chain fatty acid production, microbiome diversity, and fermentation balance,” he said.

“What sets virgin sugarcane apart is it behaves like a true food-based fibre, not a chemical additive.

“This enables manufacturers to bridge the gap tween consumer convenience and genuine digestive benefit.”

Western Australian based dietitian Meagan McMillan, who now works with HFS as a product specialist, said she had seen firsthand that fibre is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

“For years, the market has relied on traditional fibres like psyllium and wheat dextrin—limited in their ability to address the complexity of modern gut health,” she said.

“What we now know through science and practice is that the gut requires diversity, balance, and bioactive compounds that go beyond simple bulking fibres.

She said that’s where HFS’s products stands apart as a new generation, whole- plant prebiotic fibre that truly supports digestive, metabolic, and overall wellbeing.

Healthy business model

HFS generates revenue through a vertically integrated model that captures value across the fast-growing gut health market.

By owning its IP, production technology, and GMP-certified manufacturing facility in Queensland, the company is working to ensure it maintains full quality control and protects margins.

The company is now scaling production capacity to meet rising demand, while advancing new formulations that combine prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic science.

By blending direct retail sales with high-margin ingredient supply and licensing agreements, HFS is working to establishing a balanced and sustainable revenue base.

The company also has white-label, and co-branded ranges with PhytoBiome already integrated into products from brands including Healthyroo, Fertile Gut, Chief Nutrition, Real Good Food, Dessert Kitchen and Cooee Cookies.

Kfibre is distributed through 425 stores and five distributors via Sunrise Health & Wellness, while PhyteQuine is sold via retail and veterinary outlets.

HFS has also joined forces with leading Australian healthcare supplier Surgical Health to distribute Kfibre to Australia’s health, aged care and disability sectors.

The collaboration aims to address common digestive challenges such as constipation and discomfort in vulnerable populations to improve their nutrition and wellbeing.

“Kfibre is the ideal dietary solution because it is a tasteless, plant-based fibre supplement that can be used to easily boost the fibre content of many foods and beverages such as yoghurts, soups, casseroles and baked goods,” Edwards said.

Investment round underway

HFS has officially appointed PAC Partners as broker for the proposed listing as it undertakes a $2 million funding round to upgrade the company’s manufacturing plant and accelerate new product development.

Funds raised will also be used to expand sales and marketing initiatives, bolster working capital, and produce stock to meet growing market demand.

This article was developed in collaboration with Health Food Symmetry, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.