Carolyn Claire Creswell (née Tennent, born 30 December 1973) is an Australian businesswoman and television host.[1][2] She is best known as the founder of Australian brand Carman's Fine Foods.[3][4][5]

Carolyn Claire Creswell
Creswell in August 2018
Born
Carolyn Claire Tennent

(1973-12-30) 30 December 1973 (age 50)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
EducationPolitics and Sociology
Law
Alma materMonash University
University of London
Occupation(s)Founder and Managing Director of the Carman’s Fine Foods
Years active1992–present
TelevisionRecipe to Riches
SpousePeter Creswell (m. 3 March 2000) (1967 - present)
Children4
Parent(s)Marcia (1944-) and David Tennent (1942-)
Websitehttps://carmanskitchen.com.au

Early life and education

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Creswell was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia; her parents are Marcia and David Tennent. Creswell graduated from St Catherine's School in Toorak,[6] Victoria, before attending Monash University where she received her BA in Arts in 1994. She completed a year of a law degree at the University of London in 1996.

Career

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Carman's Fine Foods

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At the age of 18, Creswell purchased a small local hand-made muesli business for $1,000, whom she had worked and founded her own brand, Carman's Fine Foods. In 1993, Carman's Fine Foods obtained its first interstate distributor in New South Wales.[7] The turning point for Creswell came when Coles Supermarkets agreed to trial her muesli in some of its Melbourne stores. By 1997, Coles stocked Carman's muesli nationally; Woolworths followed in 2001.In 2002 Carman's Fine Foods expanded into the muesli bar category. In 2003, an Austrade Export Development Grant aided Carman's introduction to international buyers.[8] As of 2019, Carman's Fine Foods is an Australian brand distributed in more than 35 countries around the world including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.[9][10][11]

Television

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In 2013 Creswell joined Network Ten as a mentor and judge on Recipe to Riches alongside Darren Robertson, Russel Howcroft, and Jess Gill. Creswell has also appeared on the panel of Network Ten's The Project and Studio Ten.[12]

Recognition and awards

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  • 2007 Ernst & Young's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[13]
  • 2007 Finalist Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year
  • 2008 Finalist Veuve Cliquot Australian Business Woman of the Year
  • 2009 Finalist InStyle Women of Style Awards
  • 2009 Commendee (Large Services) Governor of Victoria Export Awards
  • 2012 Telstra Australia Business Woman of the Year[14][15][16]

Philanthropy

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Creswell was formerly a board member for the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (2009-2012), Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation (2010-2017) and the Human Rights Law Centre (2015-2018). She's currently an ambassador of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre[17] and Smiling Mind and the patron of St Kilda Gatehouse. Creswell is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Young Presidents' Organization. Among other roles, Creswell currently works on the professional keynote circuit.[18][19][20]

Personal life

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Creswell lives in Melbourne with her husband Peter Creswell and four children.[21]

References

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  1. ^ “Recipe to Riches”
  2. ^ “Australian Childhood Foundation
  3. ^ Stanton, Kate (9 January 2017). "The 'muesli queen' who built a $60m food business". BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ^ Ryson, Hannie (14 January 2019). "How Carolyn Creswell - muesli lady - turned $1000 into $100m". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. ^ “MSN News: Australia's 20 wealthiest women”
  6. ^ “St Catherine School:"Carolyn Creswell”
  7. ^ Cannata, Sarah (16 June 2016). "How Muesli Queen Carolyn Creswell Changed My Life Forever". HuffPost. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  8. ^ “Dynamic Business:"CAROLYN CRESWELL, THE CEREAL ENTREPRENEUR BEHIND CARMAN’S FINE FOODS”
  9. ^ Wilmoth, Peter (5 January 2015). "The muesli bowl of Asia". Blue Notes. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  10. ^ “Balance by Deborah Hutton: "Five of Australia's Top Entrepreneurs”
  11. ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (3 June 2017). "Muesli queen Carolyn Creswell is taking Carman's to China". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  12. ^ Knox, David (21 November 2012). "Recipe To Riches mentors announced". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  13. ^ “Women in Business:"Carolyn Creswell”
  14. ^ “The Adviser:"Best in business: Carolyn Creswell”
  15. ^ “Monash University:"Carolyn Creswell”
  16. ^ Shmidl, Engel (22 November 2012). "Muesli queen reveals how she won Telstra Business Woman of the Year". Smart Company. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  17. ^ “Asylum Seekers Resource Centre:"Carolyn Creswell”
  18. ^ “Australian Childhood Foundation”
  19. ^ “Monash Life”
  20. ^ “Star Journal:"Breakfast muesli food for thought”
  21. ^ McMahon, Neil (29 January 2012). "For obscurity and anonymity, it can only be Bena". The Age. Retrieved 3 July 2019.