When Ethan and Kate Zuckerman began producing kombucha in 2010, they would often sell the tangy brew in six packs behind a restaurant located in Charlottesville's Belmont neighborhood.
From those humble beginnings, the couple's business, Blue Ridge Bucha, has a real shot at winning a major small business competition with more than 800 entrants. SCORE is a non-profit association focused on helping small businesses across the U.S. thrive.
As of Tuesday, Blue Ridge Bucha had more than 2,000 votes in SCORE's American Small Business Championship, putting the business in sight of first place. The small business winners will be announced in September, and three will each earn $15,000.
The competition comes at an opportune time for Blue Ridge Bucha, whose fermented tea with origins dating back 2,000 years has become wildly popular with locals. The small business went through a rebranding campaign after facing a federal copyright infringement lawsuit from Gallo Wines. Blue Ridge Bucha was formerly known as Barefoot Bucha. Gallo is the maker of the popular Barefoot Wine brand. The winemaker sued two years ago, but the dust-up was settled amicably, Ethan says. The change from Barefoot Bucha to Blue Ridge Bucha took effect in January of last year. The newly branded business is now hoping the business competition will bring it national exposure.
