Better Booch

About Better Booch

Better Booch is a producer of premium, small-batch kombucha, founded in Los Angeles in 2012 by the husband-and-wife team Trey and Ashleigh Lockerbie. The founders, both former touring musicians who worked with artists like Rihanna and Selena Gomez, sought a healthier beverage alternative to what was available on the road. The inspiration to start the company came after Trey began brewing kombucha at home for his sister, who was undergoing breast cancer treatment. This personal journey fueled their mission to create a kombucha that was not only beneficial but also palatable, aiming to make the healthy choice an easy one for consumers.

The company's business model revolves around the production and sale of canned, fermented tea through a multi-channel distribution strategy. This includes a robust retail presence in over 5,000 locations nationwide, such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Safeway, alongside a direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel via their website, which features a subscription service. The subscription model, launched in late 2021, has become a significant source of recurring revenue, accounting for a substantial portion of their online sales. Better Booch bootstrapped for its first six years, with Trey initially handling deliveries himself out of a minivan, before securing its first seed funding round of $2.5 million in 2019. Total funding has since reached over $5.18 million. The company has demonstrated significant growth, reporting a 320% increase in its canned product line in 2020 and an estimated annual revenue of $8 million.

Better Booch's product is a 100% tea-based, raw, unpasteurized kombucha, distinguished by its low sugar content and the use of organic herbs, botanicals, and adaptogens without added juices or concentrates. The product line, which transitioned entirely from bottles to more sustainable and convenient aluminum cans, features a variety of flavors like Ginger Boost, Golden Pear, and Morning Glory. Each batch undergoes meticulous quality testing to ensure consistency. In 2023, the company expanded its portfolio by launching "Cha," a line of sparkling prebiotic teas, to appeal to consumers seeking functional, gut-healthy beverages beyond traditional kombucha. The company is also committed to social responsibility, supporting City of Hope’s research into non-toxic cancer treatments.