Summer Auerbach

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 2010 and 2011 Business First “Fast 50,” 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) 2018 Innovation Award and was named Natural Food Merchandiser’s “Retailer of the Year” for Sustainability in 2014. They were also Vitamin Retailer Magazine’s 2012 “Retailer of the Year.” Summer joined CFL’s Mission and Impact Committee in 2017 and became a member of the CFL board in 2019. Summer has served on numerous boards, including Independent Natural Food Retailers Association Board of Directors. She is a founder and past board chair of the Louisville Independent Business Alliance, a “buy local” organization with over 900 business members. She also serves as a trustee and vice-chair for The Olmsted Parks Conservancy. She and her husband co-chaired a $7-million-dollar capital campaign for Louisville Public Media.