One in a Million: Courtney Lorenz and the Kombucha She Makes
A jar of soon-to-be Kombucha brewing - Courtney and her “Booch Pooch”, Romi - A kaleidoscope of flavors!
From pioneering in a largely unknown industry beginning ten years ago to having her business hailed as one the top “Companies to Watch in Michigan,” Courtney Lorenz, owner of Cultured Kombucha, is propelling her business upward with intellect and perseverance that has made her company One in a Million.
The company was just celebrated by the Small Business Association of Michigan as among the 50 Michigan Companies to Watch in 2025. The program was launched in 2004 to recognize small businesses for growing the State’s economy, creating jobs and being integral to their communities.
“Yes, one in a million,” says Laura Galbraith, President of Venture North Funding and Development that has provided capital to help the company grow. “Accolades abound and the facts speak for themselves. This is a woman-owned business with products that are certified USDA organic, vegan and are GMO-free. It is the fastest growing kombucha company in Michigan. They serve almost 500 stores, restaurants, coffee shops and breweries. Under Courtney’s leadership, the company has had meteoric-like growth. And they have a great social mission.”
“Ruthless consistency,” says Lorenz. “That’s my number one manufacturing goal behind our processes and products, supported by our work with quality systems such as Lean Manufacturing.”
Among the Cultured Kombucha marketers is the Meijer Corporation, a pioneer of the supercenter concept beginning in 1934, now ranked by Forbes as the 23rd largest retailer by revenue since 2023. Two years ago,
Lorenz began the corporate journey with Meijer and has grown in the last two years to extend the Cultured Kombucha line from 120 stores in 2023 to 200 today.
“Courtney has done a phenomenal job growing her business from the ground up despite setbacks she’s faced along the way,” said Venture North Business Development Manager Annie Olds. “When the opportunity came for us to get behind the business again, it made sense for a number of reasons, including the fit between Culture’s social mission and ours. The financial request came at a pivotal time for Cultured Kombucha and their request for support was a perfect match with the reason Venture North exists. It’s what we are here to do. It required that we work together with creativity, tenacity and perseverance and ‘grit’. No was not an option. It was up to us to figure out how to get this deal done.”
“Taking our commitment further, every bottle of Cultured Kombucha now helps support the fight against human trafficking in our community. Our business should be a force for good – empowering women and protecting the vulnerable go hand in hand.”
“Whether you’re the local Oryana store in Traverse City, one of our many brewery customers or the Meijer store in Manistee, we’re making moves to make our products and distribution foolproof,” says Lorenz. “And that includes our new bottling line and using a box truck to build our distribution and supply chains to accommodate growth. We’re also building our customer service team. We want to be thought of as ‘one in a million’ for quality, and products that people covet for taste and good health, all in one package.”
“Courtney has done a great job of securing grant support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture Rural Development to update and buy new processing equipment,” said Venture North Business Development Manager Annie Olds. “The new bottling line has allowed her to increase production by 400 percent and expand storage space for bottles that she buys in increasing larger quantities. She has a great track record of success in managing the capital that Venture North has provided to match her growth goals.”
Courtney has also set a high bar for the social mission of Cultured Kombucha.
“They say ‘it takes a village’ and when it comes to business, that couldn’t be more true,” she says. “Studies show that women-led businesses are more likely to reinvest in their communities, creating a ripple effect of growth, support and opportunity. From our partnerships with local retailers to the incredible women who bring our kombucha to life, we know that when women uplift each other, everyone wins. Taking our commitment further, every bottle of Cultured Kombucha now helps support the fight against human trafficking in our community. Our business should be a force for good – empowering women and protecting the vulnerable go hand in hand.”
One in a Million.
When you enjoy Cultured Kombucha, you nourish your body and help build a stronger, safer community! And, with Courtney at the helm, we can be sure the company will be led by a person with the intellect and perseverance of one of Michigan’s most successful entrepreneurs.
For media inquiries:
Contact: Tim Ervin - Ph: 231-794-0089 - Email: timervinassoc@gmail.com
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