Summer Auerbach, Second Generation Owner of Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets, literally “grew up” in the natural food industry. Her parents, Rob and Pumpkin Auerbach, started the family business in 1977. In 2004, her father became very ill and Summer moved back to Louisville and took over the family business. She has grown the business to a 5-store operation that has received accolades throughout the Louisville community and the natural products industry.
Summer was honored with the 2016 NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Louisville “Large Business Owner of the Year” award. She was a 2013 Bingham Fellow, was recognized as a “Forty under 40” by Business First and led Rainbow Blossom to be a recipient of the Business First “Fast 50” in 2010, 2011, 2021 and 2022, which recognizes the 50 fastest growing privately owned companies in the Louisville, Kentucky area. Summer was named Today’s Woman Magazine’s “2011 Most Admired Woman” in the Food and Entertainment category.
Rainbow Blossom was named Whole Foods Magazine’s 2019 “Retailer of the Year”, was the recipient of Independent Natural Food Retailers Association’s (INFRA) 2019 Sales Growth Award and the 2018 Innovation Award. They were named Natural Food Merchandiser’s “Retailer of the Year” for Sustainability in 2014 were named Vitamin Retailer Magazine’s 2012 “Retailer of the Year.”
Summer has served on numerous boards, and currently serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association, a national trade organization that represents independent retailers with over 300 stores and $2 billion in annual revenue. Summer serves as a director of The Community Foundation of Louisville, Kentucky’s largest charitable foundation with over $800 million in assets and $1.1 Billion in grants awarded. She also serves as a trustee and Board Chair for The Olmsted Parks Conservancy and has the distinction of being the first and only third-generation trustee, following in the footsteps of her grandmother and father.
Summer is Married to attorney and former Louisville Councilman, Brandon Coan and has a 5-year old son named Simon.