A scientist who turned Australian apples into a multimillion-dollar business is now taking the US by storm.

Dr Vincent Candrawinata’s health products derived from apples have helped countless Australians manage pain, earning him a $5 million deal with Woolworths along the way.

Now, after selling out on US television at a rate of one product every three seconds, the health entrepreneur is shining a global spotlight on Australian innovation.

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Growing up in Indonesia, he developed a fascination with the connection between food and science while watching his mother work in her home bakery.

“Even though at the time my mum couldn’t explain the scientific part, I saw science in action in the way that when you whip egg white, it went from a liquid into solid, like meringue,” Candrawinata said.

“Or when you roll out pastry and then it rises in the oven.”

Those early experiences sparked a curiosity that eventually led him to study food, science and technology at university before undertaking antioxidant research at the University of Newcastle.

“We all know we are what we eat,” he said.

“But I really wanted to know how we can our improve lives. “

It was during his time in Newcastle he made a discovery that would ultimately change the course of his career.

Working alongside Australian apple farmers, Candrawinata became interested in what made locally-grown apples unique.

“I was very lucky because I was on a journey where I working with Australian apple farmers,” he said.

“I learnt that we couldn’t compete on pricing and we couldn’t compete on volume, compared to international imports.

“So I investigated the nutritional benefits and after doing the research found apples grown in Australia are higher in their phenolic antioxidants, which is the holy grail of antioxidants.”

He explained Australia’s climate plays a key role, with apple trees exposed to high levels of UV radiation.

As a result, the trees produce greater quantities of antioxidants as a natural defence mechanism.

Phenolic antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds found in fruits and are considered among nature’s most powerful dietary antioxidants.

At the time, extracting these compounds typically required the use of chemicals.

After 18 months of research, Candrawinata developed a world-first technology that used only water to extract and activate the beneficial antioxidants.

The laboratory technique allowed him to isolate what he calls “activated phenolics” — potent antioxidants capable of helping the body combat harmful free radicals more effectively.

The discovery became deeply personal after he witnessed the impact it had on his grandmother, who had been confined to a wheelchair by rheumatic arthritis.

The extracted antioxidants from apples reduced her pain and inflammation and got her back on her feet.

Candrawinata said it inspired him to want to help more people live a better life.

His activated phenolics were eventually developed into health supplements, first through his An Apple A Day vitamins and powders before being incorporated into apple cider vinegar products.

He founded Renovatio — Latin for “new life” — with a mission to make high-quality natural health products more accessible to Australians.

The products are designed to help protect against inflammation while supporting cellular repair and regeneration and digestive health.

A major turning point came in 2019 when, while presenting his research at a conference, he was approached by Woolworths about stocking his products nationally.

Candrawinata wanted his products to be available where everyday Australians shop, and the range launched in 1000 stores nationwide in March 2020.

The partnership resulted in a $5 million deal with the supermarket giant, a relationship that continues today.

He said many customers first discover the products through word-of-mouth recommendations from family and friends who have experienced benefits firsthand.

Today, Candrawinata oversees a rapidly growing health and wellness business that also includes his skincare brand Vincent APSKIN.

Despite the success, he says helping people remains his driving force.

“I read the comments from returning customers and can see how much the vitamins have helped reduce their pain,” he said.

“They can now do things like carry the laundry basket or play with their grandkids because they’re no longer in pain.

“We take these simple things for granted.

“I don’t necessarily have to change the world, but if I can change someone’s world to be better then I’m happy.”

That mission is now fuelling the next chapter of his business expansion.

Motivated by the desire to reach more people, Candrawinata began manufacturing products in the US in 2024.

Last month, he made his US television debut on shopping channel ShopLC and sold products at an astonishing rate of one every three seconds, selling out before his allocated timeslot even finished.

Candrawinata said he had learnt to speak English by watching American shopping channels, making the experience a full-circle moment.

Now, demand continues to grow, with the network bringing him back regularly from June. American customers have even given him the nickname “Aussie Apple Doc”.

Candrawinata said the breakthrough marks a significant international milestone not only for his company but also for Australian innovation in health and wellness.

“This shows the world is paying attention to Australian science, Australian produce and Australian wellness technology,” Candrawinata said.

“We should be incredibly proud of what Australia is producing.”

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Carlton have hung on to a thrilling five-point win over arch rivals Essendon in a pulsating AFL clash that went down to the final seconds of the match.

Trailing by 11 points with less than 30 seconds on the clock, Bombers defender Zach Reid was swung forward and took a spectacular mark in front of goal before hurrying back to kick the goal and keep his side’s slim hopes of a miracle victory alive.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Harry McKay cons umpires with shrewd gamesmanship

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The clock stopped with nine seconds remaining, giving Essendon one last chance to generate a score with a perfect centre clearance and mark or free kick inside 50.

And they almost pulled it off — only for an uncharacteristic fumble from Zach Merrett to stall their break from the centre circle and run the clock down to zero.

Critically though, the Bombers might be forgiven for feeling hard done-by that they didn’t have more time, given the shrewd gamesmanship from Carlton forward Harry McKay about a minute earlier.

McKay took a mark outside 50 near the boundary line with one minute and 43 seconds left to play.

Given the player on the mark was standing at about 55, and a shot for goal would have had to clear the pack on the goal line, McKay would have needed to kick it close to 65 metres to be a realistic chance for a major.

It was always going to be beyond him, but that didn’t stop the former Coleman medallist from selling his intentions to the umpire.

McKay went back and pointed to the goals to try to get the valuable 30 seconds allocated for a shot on goal, as opposed to the eight given for marks around the ground.

“Does the umpire believe him that he’s having a shot and can take his 30, or will they call his bluff?” Kane Cornes said on Channel 7.

Brian Taylor wasn’t buying it, but the umpire did.

“Surely not. You can’t give him 30 from there,” Taylor said.

“He’s asking, he’s appealing for it. Oh, c’mon — the man on the mark’s at 55! They’re giving him the 30.

“Even he is having a giggle.”

McKay started his approach to goals with 1:14 left on the clock and didn’t take his kick until the 1:03 mark.

Predictably, he didn’t even take the shot, instead kicking it to the top of the goal square.

“He doesn’t even go for it in the end,” Taylor said.

“Umpires were completely conned on that one I reckon, late in the game. And it’s cost them (Essendon) 30 seconds.”

The ball was contested by a pack of players who locked it up and forced a stoppage with 55 seconds left.

As it would turn out after Reid’s goal a minute of actual time later, those seconds proved crucial in the result.

Asked about McKay’s tactic after the game, Essendon interim coach Dean Solomon tipped his hat to the Carlton forward.

“I think it’s just smart, isn’t it?” he said.

“It’s just using the rules and maximising the opportunity at that time and milking the clock and putting themselves in a winnable position.

Speaking to Fox Sports after the game, McKay admitted “it was slightly ambitious to think I was going to kick it from 75”.

“But any time you can take a little bit of time off the clock late, we practice it a lot at training. I’m glad it worked,” he added.

“There’s nothing I can do to control that. He did it really well.”

Carlton trailed by 23 points in a poor first half showing before George Hewett (27 disposals), Sam Walsh (24), Jagga Smith (24) and Patrick Cripps (23) turned the midfield battle around.

Harry McKay kicked three crucial goals, and the Blues added seven majors to the Bombers’ four after the main break in a fiery contest.

Essendon (1-12) remain anchored to the bottom of the ladder despite Reid’s efforts in defence and a dominant first half from Sam Durham (30 disposals).

Ben McKay and Hussien El Achkar kicked two goals each. Zach Merrett had 33 touches at half-back but did not have his usual influence.

Essendon led at quarter-time for just the second time this season after also doing so in their only win of the campaign in Round 5 against Melbourne.

The Bombers took advantage of their opponents’ lack of pressure when Max Kondogiannis, El Achkar and Durham goaled in quick succession to send their team clear.

But Harry McKay kept Carlton in touch with two late majors before halftime, trimming the margin to 14 points.

The Blues spearhead wobbled through another set shot after the main break but a reply from comeback kid Harrison Jones — in his first AFL game in more than 13 months — lifted Essendon.

Tension boiled over as Jones celebrated and a series of spotfires broke out in a heated contest.

Durham went quiet in the third term and the Blues lifted their intensity, drawing level with one quarter left to play.

They hit the front for the first time when a score review confirmed a rushed behind, and gained some breathing space through Ben Ainsworth’s goal on the run.

Ben McKay converted the second of two chances to drag Essendon back within a kick but teammate Jacob Farrow’s late shove on Brodie Kemp led to a free kick and a brilliant goal from the boundary line.

The lead grew to 18 points but two late goals to Essendon set up a huge finish.

With AAP

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Gold Coast fullback Keano Kini conjured up the attacking play of the season to sink Brisbane 28-23 and leave the premiers’ title defence in ruins.

A 73rd-minute Adam Reynolds field goal appeared to have taken the Broncos to victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, before Kini, from 55m out, chipped ahead and snatched the ball from Reece Walsh’s grasp to race away in the 77th minute.

Kini then saved a last-gasp try attempt by the Broncos when he knocked the ball dead to secure one of the club’s great wins and break a five-game losing streak.

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“Special players do special things,” Titans coach Josh Hannay said.

“We love that young lad because he might drop a ball early but it doesn’t stop him. He keeps going after the contest, and he went after it right to the very end and came up with a special play.

“There’s a lot of good things happening at the club, but winning is the most important. It gives the players confidence and everyone belief in what we are doing.”

The Titans showed incredible resilience to turn the Broncos away at the death 

Brisbane have now lost five matches in a row and sit in 11th position. 

The Broncos were wearing their all-black mental health jersey, the same one they donned against the Titans last year in round 14 when a win kick-started a 10-2 finish to the season and a run to the title.

In a detail of symmetry, they had a 5-7 start to the season last year before the Titans clash, exactly the same beginning they had made to this season. History did not repeat itself.

Ezra Mam, on the extended bench for Queensland in the State of Origin series opener, has been demoted to the bench by Broncos coach Michael Maguire for poor form, but entered the fray in the 15th minute when his replacement Tom Duffy suffered a category-two head knock.

The dazzling five-eighth made an immediate impact with four tackle busts, but was replaced after a 15-minute stint when Duffy came back on.

The Titans’ inability to defuse a Reynolds bomb cost them when the Broncos skipper backed up his kick in the next set of six to put second-rower Brendan Piakura over. 

Mam split the defence down the left and centre Kotoni Staggs scored in the right corner to make it 12-0.

Titans supersub Kurtis Morrin, one of their best this season, had the presence of mind and the commitment to win the race after Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski dropped the ball near his own tryline. 

Titans winger Phil Sami busted through a feeble attempt at tackle by Ben Hunt and then ran straight around Walsh, who was suffering from a cork, with ease in a sensational 70m run to the line. 

Walsh and second-rower Gosiewski were seen having a stern discussion with each other after the try as the Broncos took a 12-10 lead into the break.

Brilliant play by Klese Haas and AJ Brimson sent five-eighth Jayden Campbell in under the sticks and the Titans had the lead after 50 minutes.

Campbell zig-zagged his way to his second with individual brilliance, but a crucial Haas error gifted the Broncos the ball and Duffy put Jesse Arthars over out wide. 

Mam came on for Duffy again in the 61st minute, but it was Piakura who came up with a stunning ball for Grant Anderson to level

Reynolds stepped up, before Kini came up with a play for the ages to win it.

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