From His Parents' Kitchen to the King of Kombucha: How GT Dave Built His Empire Hint: There was no business plan involved.
By Kristen Aldridge •
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As the founder and CEO of GT's Living Foods, GT Dave may be known as the "King of Kombucha," but when he started his brand, he was just a 15 year-old working out of his parents' kitchen.
Growing up in a nutrition-conscious household, GT was embarrassed when his parents started brewing their own kombucha.
"I cannot say it was love at first drink," GT jokes. Their home brew slowly grew on him, however, and by the time GT left high school, he had concocted his own formula.
With no formal training and no business plan, GT pitched his new brand to local health stores, carefully measuring each label and polishing the bottles by hand.
"The energy that you put into everything you do is a reflection of how people are going to interact with it," GT says.
Today, GT has revolutionized the beverage industry. As the sole owner of GT's Living Foods, his booming business is now worth over $900 million and growing, something he attributes to his deep passion for the product.
In this episode of How Brands Are Born, see how GT's inspiring persistence proved to be more valuable than a formal education.
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