Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caley Gunthorpe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Caley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I was a collegiate athlete, and after college didn’t want to lose my competitive edge. I started doing bodybuilding competitions and received my personal training certification as well. I started eating a lot of protein and having digestive issues, my coach at the time suggested drinking kombucha to aid in digestion. I didn’t know what it even was but started drinking it 7x a week! I was also a teacher at the time, not making much money and still paying off my college loans so it became quite the expensive habit. I decided to make it myself! I started just giving my kombucha away to family and selling it to my personal training clients. One day I decided I wanted to sell it at a farmers market, well… You need a license for that. So I decided to do it! I stayed up all night making my LLC, finding insurance, a commercial kitchen to use. and BOOM apple blossom kombucha was formed. I woke up the next morning and told my husband I created a business and his words were “don’t you think we should have talked about this?” well… “what is it called” I told him Apple Blossom Kombucha! because the apple blossom is the state flower of Michigan and I want to use all Michigan ingredients from farmers I know and trust!

Caley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

One thing that separates me from any other kombucha brewers is I use all my flavoring ingredients from a Michigan farmer. My labels are printed in Michigan, my glass is from Michigan, my caps are from Michigan, all my design work is from Michigan. I truly believe the money we spend locally will stay local so I work incredibly hard to source everything I can from someone I know.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started as a physical education and health teacher full time, personal trainer, and juggling kombucha business. Went part time PE/health teacher, personal trainer, kombucha. Then had my daughter and just went to personal trainer and kombucha. Now, I am full time kombucha! and mom :)

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

a lot of kombuchas on the shelf are force carbonated, add sugar, pasteurize and kill bacteria! So many are not even kombucha. Owned by Pepsi and Coke. I ferment my kombucha the traditional way. You can come in and see how I brew, the whole process. It doesn’t taste like big brand kombucha, because its not! It is the real stuff with probiotics!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.appleblossomkombucha.com
• Instagram: Apple Blossom Kombucha
• Facebook: Apple Blossom Kombucha

Image Credits
CuratingContentMarketing Mcshane Photography