EAT CLEAN MATE

Hi, I’m Pio (short for Scorpio, yes… like the star sign) — founder and maker of EAT CLEAN MATE. I was born and raised in Indonesia, where tempe has been a staple for centuries and is one of the world’s most nutritious wholefood plant-based proteins. In 2019, I was living in Jakarta with my Aussie wife and our son, working in digital marketing and managing a team at an online travel agency. As a family, we decided to move to Australia so our son could start Prep in the Aussie school system. That decision sparked a bigger question for me: what kind of work do I want to do in Australia? I’ve followed a vegan lifestyle since April 2012 and wanted to create something meaningful — a business that supports a plant-based lifestyle, is inclusive, and has a positive impact on the planet. Tempe has always been a staple in our home. It’s simple, nourishing, high in protein and fibre, and incredibly versatile. That’s when the idea was born: to bring fresh, unpasteurised organic tempe from my Indonesian roots to the local Australian community. The pandemic accelerated our move, and after six challenging months apart from my family, I finally arrived in Australia on September 2nd, 2020. During hotel quarantine in Sydney, the name EAT CLEAN MATE was created, and the vision for producing fresh organic tempe really began to take shape. After extensive research, hands-on experimentation, and navigating food manufacturing regulations, the dream became reality. On March 11th, 2022, the Sunshine Coast Council granted my licence to manufacture tempe. EAT CLEAN MATE initially focused on fresh, unpasteurised organic soy-free tempe. Today, the range has evolved to include the OG soy-based tempe too, based on requests from local retailers and customers. My mission is simple: to provide fresh, unpasteurised tempe for the local community — and hopefully beyond. Whether you’re looking for a high-quality plant-based protein, wanting to reduce meat consumption, eat cleaner, or minimise your environmental impact, tempe is a powerful wholefood choice. Thank you for being here and supporting small-batch, locally made tempe on the Sunshine Coast.