Cultured Kombucha Co., Courtney Lorenz
In 2015, I left my full-time corporate gig to launch Cultured Kombucha Co., northern Michigan's first kombucha tea brewery. We launched with a mission to "Create Healthier Lifestyle Choices - One Sip at a Time." In the last 12 months, I've enjoyed watching my business, which was created to foster health within the community, grow over 110% with a profitability increase of 120%. When your intent is properly positioned to heal within the community, reciprocity is the supporting element of hard work.
Cultured is a health-conscious kombucha business that will surely make your tastebuds and gut health dance. Thank-you. Kombucha, in its most basic form, is a tea fermented for health instead of alcohol and produces probiotics, live cultures, and digestive enzymes.
As of October 2023, the product line includes five year-round and one seasonal SKU. Products are available in 380 locations throughout Michigan and (teaser alert!) in many more states to come soon! Cultured is embarking on an expansion incorporating a brand refresh, new marketing efforts, and a new launch with distribution partner SpartanNash. It's been a journey that is still expanding, and SCORE has been pivotal to this growth.
SCORE has supported my 24-year-old mind with a bucket of fermented tea at a farmers market and no idea how to run Quickbooks into the Midwest's fastest-growing and most in-demand kombucha. From marketing to finance, SCORE has assisted with my needs. My first mentor, Charlie Bumb, was transformative. Charlie instilled the importance of building genuine value relationships and fostering reciprocation in all aspects of my business - a model we will continue to employ for the company's life. I've been blessed with additional mentors throughout my time with SCORE through Charlie's connections. After Charlie's retirement, I enjoyed connections with Tanya Berg and look forward to continuing to call on her branding expertise for years to come. Her wisdom and eagerness to support our rapid growth have been an invaluable partnership.
Cultured is proudly woman-owned, certified USDA organic, certified vegan, and GMO-free, and is the fastest-growing kombucha company in Michigan, with locations in more than 300 stores, restaurants, and coffee shops across the state. The expansion is set on expanding throughout the Midwest by building additional brand lines and educating the public on the health benefits.
With gratitude to SCORE and a toast to a healthy culture, we plan to continue expanding and producing what we proudly say is "the best of the Midwest!"
As a marketing professional with over 30 years experience in marketing, branding, communications and...
