Husband and Wife Cade and Talissa are passionate about making a difference in the lives of new mums through their incredible range of products for lactation support, including their delicious lactation cookies.
They are also mum and dad to three beautiful children, Milly, Banjo and Daisy. It was Talissa’s first experience of breastfeeding baby Milly in 2016 that inspired her to help others on their journey.
We were fortunate enough to chat with Talissa about all things business, family life and what’s on the horizon for this wonderful brand.
Can you share the story of how you started Made to Milk? What inspired you to create breastfeeding solutions for mums?
I was on maternity leave from a bank job & noticed a slow decline in my milk supply when my first baby, Milly, was around 5 months old. I was absolutely devastated and a friend suggested the concept of ‘lactation cookies’ to help. There weren’t many brands around at that time I could go & grab straight away to try so I ended up making my own. And it was like a dairy farm opened overnight- except instead of cows, it was just me, wildly in shock with how well they worked (I was definitely skeptical!).
Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I knew I had to share them with other mums. Because if a cookie could take me from milk supply crisis to human fire hydrant, surely other mums deserved that too. And just like that, Made to Milk was born-partly out of desperation for myself, part kitchen experiment & 100% fuelled by my deep love for snacks & desserts.
What was the journey like from your first product idea to launching your range?
Actually pretty quick. I started very small & very homemade. I baked myself in my home kitchen & only made-to-order so there was a very small investment to start. Which was lucky because Cade was a full-time student at the time so we really didn’t have much! As time went on, I invested everything the business made back into it so that it could grow.
How has your personal experience as parents shaped your approach to the business?
Being parents ourselves has shaped everything we do. We get the chaos, the exhaustion, and sometimes the survival mode needed just to get through the day. And because we’ve been there - crying over spilled milk (literally), we don’t just sell to mums…we connect with them. Our customer relationships aren’t just transactional; they’re built on shared survival stories and a mutual understanding that motherhood is a rough (and beautiful) ride & we’re all in it together.
In terms of the day-to-day runnings of the business, flexibility is a necessity. Our team of mums work around daycare/school drop-offs, sick days, and those random Tuesday meltdowns (sometimes the kids, sometimes us). During school holidays there’s a background symphony of Peppa Pig & snack negotiations in the office & warehouse. It’s a whole vibe!
You’ve been nominated and won many awards in your time. What makes Made to Milk products stand out from others in the market?
I like to think of Made to Milk as the cool mum friend of the breastfeeding world - always looking out for what mums actually need (and what looks cute on a shelf). Our products aren’t just functional; they’re designed to make breastfeeding easier, yummier, and to give mums a little me-time back in their day.
Plus, we never stop evolving. If there’s a way to improve, innovate, or sneak more chocolate into a lactation treat, we’re on it. We don’t just follow trends; we make them!
Can you tell us about the research and development process behind your lactation cookies and drinks?
Honestly, my “research and development” process is just me living my best snack-loving life in my kitchen. I take the things I’m already obsessed with eating and turn them into lactation-friendly versions.
I test out different combos in my kitchen at home, sneak in those magic milk-making ingredients, and then wait for the real judges (aka my incredible team & family) to tell me if I’ve nailed it or if I need to go back to the snack board.
What are some of your best-selling products, and why do you think they resonate so well with mums?
Our hot chocolate basically has a cult following at this point- it’s the Beyoncé of our product lineup. And I think it’s because it provides that one little moment of peace, whether it’s at 5am before the chaos starts or 9pm when the house finally goes silent. And it actually works for milk supply!
And then there’s our chocolate lactation mug cake which is another best-seller. It’s basically a warm hug in a mug, ready in seconds, with little effort required. Which, let’s be honest, is ideal because by nighttime, we’ve survived the day and we deserve it!
Are there any new products or innovations in the pipeline that you’re particularly excited about?
Always! Right now, I’m playing around with some fun new drink flavours.
I’m also working on some breastfeeding support products to compliment our food range because, while snacks are life, sometimes you need a little extra help in other ways too.
What challenges have you faced as a husband-and-wife team running Made to Milk, and how have you overcome them?
Cade likes to think he’s the logical one, the strategic thinker, the brains of the operation. Meanwhile, I’m over here making actual magic happen. So, naturally, we overcome challenges by following a very simple process: I explain why I’m right, Cade resists, we go back and forth, and then eventually Cade has the great epiphany that, shockingly, I was right all along. Can’t wait til he reads this.
In all seriousness, running a business together means learning to balance our strengths. We’ve had to figure out how to switch off from work, delegate without wanting to strangle each other, and most importantly-agree that I get the final say on all snack-related decisions.
What has been the most rewarding part of running Made to Milk?
Honestly, it still blows my mind that something as simple as a cookie or a hot chocolate can have such a huge impact. I set out to make delicious snacks that help with milk supply, but hearing from mums who say our products have literally changed their entire breastfeeding journey has been next-level rewarding. Some have told me they were ready to give up, feeling completely defeated, and then overnight they’re suddenly thriving. It’s a perk I never realised would come when I started out.
And then there’s our team - this incredible bunch of mums who have grown alongside Made to Milk. Watching them learn new skills, take on new challenges, and absolutely smash it is like being a proud mum!
If you could go back and give yourselves one piece of advice at the start of this journey, what would it be?
I’d tell myself to hang in there - because yes, it feels hard now (and spoiler alert: it will always feel hard in some way), but what’s waiting on the other side is beyond worth it.
There will be days when you wonder if it’s all too much, when the to-do list feels never-ending, and when you question if you’re actually cut out for this. But then, there will also be days when you get a message from a mum saying, “Your products saved my breastfeeding journey.” There will be moments when you see your team thriving, your business growing, and you realize you’ve built something so much bigger than you ever imagined.
And above all, I’d remind myself that this isn’t just a business - it’s a legacy for my family, that it would bring opportunity I never knew was possible. So take a deep breath, push through the tough days, and trust that one day, you’ll look back and think, ‘Wow. I really did that.’
Thank you for your time Cade and Talissa, we are so proud to stock your incredible products and can’t wait to see where this journey takes you next.
Shop Made to Milk here, plus for every Made to Milk purchase placed in March via our website, you’ll go into the draw to win one of their amazing ‘The ULTIMATE Breastfeeder's Water Bottle’.
