Greencity prides itself on working with so many fantastic small producers, and we decided we love them so much we should let them tell all of our customers a bit more about themselves. Over the next few months we’ll be using our blog to introduce you to many of these businesses - people who are passionate about what they do and have a tremendous amount of pride in their products.
Working at Greencity gives us a fantastic insight into the commitment and hard work carried out by so many small producers. We’re proud of the small businesses we’ve supported throughout our forty-year history and how many of them have gone on to bigger things. It’s not always about profit, it’s about trying to help each other, and as a Cooperative that’s something we strongly believe in.
First up, we got in touch with Clever Kombucha’s co-founder Kelsey Moore for an insight into how they’ve come to produce their fantastic range of fermented drinks. Kombucha is a naturally sparkling fermented tea packed with a multitude of vitamins, minerals and organic acids. Founded only in 2017, this is a small local business with a commitment to using only the best ingredients, and always on the forefront of developing
exciting new flavours combinations, all brewed in their custom-made oak barrels right here in Glasgow.
1.How/why and when did you start your business?
I am originally from Victoria BC, Canada. The kombucha market is pretty huge in North America. Whenever Alan (husband and other half of Clever Kombucha) and I go back to Canada to visit we have no shortage of kombucha to enjoy on a daily basis. This is something that we greatly missed once returning home to Glasgow. The limited kombucha brands available just weren’t to our liking so we decided to start making our own. We loved it so much that Clever Kombucha was born in October 2017.
2. What advice would you give to someone starting a new business in the sector?
Be prepared to spend a lot of time with your SCOBY’s, haha! *
3. What motivates you?
We are motivated daily by the amazing support that we receive from everyone who enjoys our kombucha.
4. How do you think the food & drinks industry could improve?
There are so many amazing artisan brands on the forefront of the food and drink industry and we have a lot of respect for these brands. We live a vegan lifestyle and we hope that the food and drink industry will continue to gain momentum in creating ethical, healthy, sustainable, products that are creating positive changes for all of us.
5. Is there an individual or organisation, current or in the past, who inspires you?
We were inspired by many of the amazing craft kombucha companies in Canada as well as the US. Many stand true to using natural ingredients and traditional brewing methods.
6. Apart from Greencity, which other three or more people, living or deceased, would you invite to make a dinner party entertaining?
My grandpa because he always made me laugh and he always amazed me with his magic tricks.
Nina Simone because we will never tire of her voice.
Sufjan Stevens who is one of our all-time favourite music artists.
* Greencity note: a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) is the living home for the bacteria that work to ferment kombucha tea and create a natural effervescence along with all the beneficial bacteria, vitamins, minerals and organic acids that are contained within.
