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A Sunshine Coast couple, whose award-winning baby-feeding idea has gained attention from New York’s elite, have set their sights on the country’s retail giants.

Since hitting the market in 2020, Mateya and Uros Lotric have grown their children’s tableware brand, Brightberry, into a successful business with 80 Australian stockists and international clients.

The industrial designers have released seven specially-designed, ergonomic silicone products that include scooping-friendly suction bowls and plates that simplify mealtime for parents and children.

Ms Lotric said Brightberry was also popular in Hong Kong and had caught the attention of Americans, winning gold in the 2022 New York Product Design Awards.

Uros and Mateya Lotric have grown their children’s tableware brand.

She said their goal was to have Brightberry on the shelves at David Jones, Myer and Baby Bunting, while they continue to work towards a European customer base.

“We have everything ready. Our products are high quality and meet international safety standards,” she said.

“We are all set and our goal is to see it on shelves of big retailers.”

The couple are well on their way to creating their baby-product empire after their Easy Scooping Training Plates were last week revealed as Australia’s International Good Design Award winner.

The bowls, with suction cups, are practical.

More than 70 Australian and international jurors evaluated Brightberry’s plate before presenting the business with the prestigious award for their outstanding design and innovation.

With two more products in the pipeline, Mr Lotric said Brightberry was dedicated to  improving their range.

“We aren’t done yet. We might say we have a complete range but really we are always working towards the next thing,” he said.

“We are designers by heart and genuinely enjoy creating new well-designed, practical products that make life easier for busy families like ours.”

Brightberry’s products use inwardly curved walls to make scooping food easy without spilling, a strong suction base to stop movement and eliminate mould, stains and toxic chemicals by using environmentally-friendly silicone that is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe.

Brightberry’s plate was recognised for  outstanding design and innovation.

The innovative idea, featured on Channel 10’s Australia by Design Innovations, was sparked by the Lotrics’ personal frustrations with children’s tableware during mealtimes with the couple’s two children.

Ms Lotric said she quickly learned the children’s tableware on the market “lacked functionality and practicality”.

“The baby bowls didn’t suction well, were easily stained, couldn’t be washed sufficiently, were too small, were difficult to scoop out, etcetera. I could go on all day,” she said.

“Being an industrial designer myself, I knew there was a better way.

“So, I said to my hubby, Uros (also an award-winning industrial designer) that this is our opportunity to solve this problem and create a better bowl.”

While Brightberry was created for young families the Lotrics were surprised when the strong suction, curved bowls attracted sales from adults with disabilities.

“Thanks to our inwardly curved bowls, you don’t need two arms to scoop because you just go up the side and the food falls into the spoon instead of over the edge and onto the bench,” she said.

More Sunshine Coast inventions: Sami Muirhead: the Willy Wonka inventors of this world keep things interesting

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