As we continue to invest in outstanding local suppliers across Alberta, we couldn’t be more excited to sit down with Victoria Lundgard from the one and only, Happy Belly Kombucha. We spoke to Victoria about Happy Belly Kombucha’s humble beginnings, their commitment to driving the local economy in Alberta, and how Safeway has helped them fulfill their company mission – to create more happy bellies in the world.

Share a little bit about your background and how your company came to be

Myself and Chas Lundgard are the founders, owners, and operators of Happy Belly Kombucha. We are the pioneers of the kombucha industry in Alberta and first to introduce packaged kombucha in cans in Canada! We were inspired after attending a holistic food conference many years ago and began brewing kombucha for ourselves. As holistic health coaches, we shared our home-brewed kombucha with friends, families and clients – they all loved it! The demand for our kombucha grew, and soon after, Happy Belly Kombucha was born! We started humbly, offering personally-delivered local draft kombucha, and have expanded to offer a line of beautifully canned kombucha at grocery retailers across Alberta.

Tell us about Happy Belly Kombucha’s products

Happy Belly Kombucha is rooted in a passion for authentic crafted elixir and an appreciation for deliciously-nourishing beverages. It’s the beautiful marriage of traditional brewing practice combined with modern science. We pride ourselves on crafting the freshest, well-balanced, most flavourful kombucha using high quality (over 95% certified organic) ingredients that are carefully sourced both locally and worldwide. We package our kombucha in bright, beautifully coloured cans, which are eco-friendly, BPA free, school-safe, and convenient for consumers. Happy Belly Kombucha is currently available in 8 superfood-inspired flavours, designed to be enjoyed by both kombucha lovers, and those new kombucha!

In what ways have your local roots impacted your business?

Being a family owned-and-operated company right here in Alberta, we have a deep vested interest in Alberta’s local economy. We want to see a thriving Alberta where grocery stores are filled with diversified, quality local products, and where we, as Albertans, can take great pride walking into our local stores.

As a local company that promotes local, we also work with local farmers to grow and source our ingredients, creating more jobs right here at home.

Why were you interested in working with Safeway?

We love that Safeway puts emphasis on sourcing local products and showcasing local businesses. Partnering with Safeway has helped us fulfill our company mission of creating more happy bellies in the world, one serving at a time! Our hearts are always so happy when we walk into a Safeway store and see the big, bright red “Local” signs!

 What growth has your company seen since partnering with Safeway?

Our company has seen significant growth since partnering with Safeway just one year ago. The Happy Belly Kombucha brand has become well-recognized across the province and our operations have grown significantly. Over the last year, we have added six core team members to our little Happy Belly Kombucha family, plus a fast growing team of Brands Ambassadors in cities across Alberta. We’ve also grown from being a strictly DSD company, to one that’s listed with four well-recognized distributors.

 What’s next for you and Happy Belly Kombucha?

We’re focusing on continuing to grow our business family by adding more core team members, and are on track to make Happy Belly Kombucha available across Canada in the very near future!

We’re so proud to partner with hundreds of local suppliers to not only bring the best products to our stores, but invest in our own local communities. Happy Belly Kombucha is now available in 80 Safeway, Sobeys and IGA stores in Alberta. Be sure to keep an eye out for their brightly coloured cans the next time you’re in store!