Since 2010, Blue Ridge Bucha has brought us countless adventures and challenges. In that time, we've also been raising a family, and our two awesome kids are now six and eight years old. We have a few more grey hairs than we did, and we have a lot of amazing memories. And earlier this year, we realized we were ready to embark on the next adventure.
In looking for the right match to guide Blue Ridge Bucha's next chapter, we knew we needed to find a new owner who understands the unique nature of what we have built. Someone who values our ♻️ refillable mission, our sustainable growth, and our commitment to being good employers and engaged community members. Someone who would continue our tradition of flavor innovation and stellar customer service, and who loves our kombucha just as much as we do. We are thrilled to have found all of that in Hank Heyming (more on Hank in the press release below), and to be handing the company we care so much about over to his very capable leadership.
We will be working alongside him in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. In the coming years, we have every confidence that Blue Ridge Bucha will continue to flourish, and we look forward to watching it grow. We think you'll also be excited about the positive changes that are in store, so please stay tuned to find out more.
🥂 Cheers and thank you for your awesome support! We truly could not have built Blue Ridge Bucha without you.
Ethan & Kate
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PRESS RELEASE: The Next Steps for Blue Ridge Bucha!
After more than a decade of success, a beloved local beverage business is under new leadership and poised for growth
WAYNESBORO, VA – Since 2010, Blue Ridge Bucha’s Co-Founders Kate and Ethan Zuckerman and their team have been handcrafting organic kombucha in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. From the early days of slinging six-packs out of the back of a beat-up old Honda Civic, to opening a full production facility and taproom in Waynesboro in 2018, the company has become a preeminent kombucha brand in the Mid-Atlantic region, known for its sustainable mission and delicious taste. “It has been an amazing experience to pour our passion for great kombucha into nurturing a small business from its early stages to where it is now,” says Ethan. “We are so grateful to our team, customers, retailers and community partners for their support of our entrepreneurial journey, and we look forward to watching the company take its next steps.”
Those steps will come under the direction of Hank Heyming, the company’s new owner and CEO (see picture of Hank and his family, above). “I could not be more excited about Blue Ridge Bucha and its prospects,” says Heyming. “The company has developed an excellent regional brand as a creator of refreshing, organic, great-tasting kombucha, all centered around its mission of sustainability.” Heyming plans to use the Blue Ridge Bucha platform to drive growth—regionally and beyond—in kombucha and adjacent spaces, while maintaining the company’s mission of sustainability and local production. “The flavors of Blue Ridge Bucha compare favorably with any other kombucha you can find in the marketplace. I can’t wait to give this amazing beverage a broader platform, while honoring its homegrown roots.”
Most recently, Hank Heyming co-founded Trolley Venture Partners, a Richmond-based venture capital fund where he will continue to serve as a Managing Director. Previously, Heyming served as a Partner with Troutman Sanders, LLP focused on venture capital law and, prior to that, he was the owner of These Four Walls, a Richmond-based home furnishings business.
And what’s next for the Zuckermans? “We are enthusiastic about Hank’s vision and our first priority is to support the company as it transitions to new leadership,” says Kate. “And then of course Ethan and I have a few entrepreneurial ideas we’re excited about. But we plan to enjoy some family time before we make a decision about what comes next.”