Brew Dr. Kombucha Completes $2.5 Million Facility Expansion

Brew Dr. Kombucha bottlePortland, OR – Brew Dr. Kombucha has just wrapped up a $2.5 million expansion to its kombucha brewing and bottling facility in Portland, Oregon.  The purpose of the project was put new equipment and systems in place that will allow the company to grow its output by over 400% over the next 2 years.

“We have grown 100 to 150% every year since we started making kombucha in 2008, and this makes it possible to continue on that path,” stated company Founder and CEO, Matt Thomas.

Brew Dr. Kombucha is currently distributed in bottles and on draft in 14 states. 2014 sales are expected to exceed $4 million. Between their facility upgrades and growing distributor relationships, Thomas and his team are forecasting 2015 sales of $10 million, reaching $20 million in 2016. Brew Dr. is growing through relationships with Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Kroger, Natural Grocers and a multitude of regional chains.

Brew Dr. Kombucha grew out of Townshend’s Tea Company, founded by Thomas in 2003. “We started out wanting to create a place for tea in a café-environment dominated by coffee shops. There is so much more you can do with tea than coffee. The spectrum goes all the way from rare traditional varieties to chai lattes to herbal medicinal blends to bubble tea.” The result was Townshend’s Teahouses, currently a chain of five retail stores with a sixth under construction.

In early 2008 Thomas started hearing more and more of his teahouse patrons asking if Townshend’s made kombucha. They had not to that point, but quickly discovered that the quality teas they were serving in their teahouses translated very well to kombucha. “When you have over 120 excellent teas and herbal blends at your fingertips you can have a lot of fun with creative formulating.” Whole Foods Market was the first to ask for Townshend’s kombucha in bottles, and it was at that point that Thomas decided to create a separate kombucha brand, Brew Dr. Kombucha. The two companies are now separate entities but are operated jointly, and Thomas is focused on growing both together.

For now, Thomas is excited about this next level for the kombucha side of the business. Expect to see Brew Dr. Kombucha popping up in more and more retailers in more and more cities in the first few months of 2015.

ABOUT BREW DR. KOMBUCHA

Brew Dr. Kombucha is a Portland, Oregon-based kombucha producer. Its kombucha line is 100% raw, 100% certified organic, and craft-brewed — meaning there are no added juices or flavorings after fermentation. The product is currently available in bottles and on draft in 14 states. Brew Dr. Kombucha has been on shelves since 2008 and is operated jointly with Townshend’s Tea Company, founded in 2003.