Bickford's Australia facts for kids
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| Proprietary Limited | |
| Industry | Beverage manufacturer |
| Headquarters | |
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Key people
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Angelo Kotses |
| Owner | Kotses family |
| Subsidiaries | Vok Beverages |
Bickford's Australia Pty. Ltd. is an Australian company that makes drinks. It is based in South Australia. The company produces classic cordials, soft drinks, and iced coffee mix. These drinks were first made by A. M. Bickford & Sons. This was a company started by Anne Margaret Bickford in 1864. She was a chemist who made medicines.
In 1999, the Kotses family bought the Bickford's brand name. They later changed the company name to Bickford's Australia. After this, the brand became popular again. They added many new flavors and products. In 2006, Bickford's lime juice cordial was named a "Heritage Icon" by the National Trust of South Australia. This means it is an important part of the state's history.
Today, you can find Bickford's cordials, soft drinks, iced coffee, and milkshake mixes in many supermarkets across Australia. Their cordials are also sold in Countdown supermarkets in New Zealand.
Contents
The Story of Bickford's
Early Beginnings
William Bickford, a chemist, came to Adelaide, South Australia, from England in 1839. He opened a successful pharmacy the next year. After he passed away in 1850, his wife, Anne Margaret Bickford, wanted to keep the business going.
In 1864, she teamed up with her son Harry Bickford. They called their business "Bickford and Son". Later, in 1871, another son, William Jr., joined them. The company then became "A. M. Bickford & Sons".
Growing the Business
The family wanted to make more than just medicines. In 1872, they built the South Australian Cordial Factory. This factory made and bottled aerated water, which is fizzy water. They started making cordials and soft drinks in 1874. One of the first drinks they made was their famous lime juice cordial.
In 1903, the company became a bigger business called A. M. Bickford & Sons Ltd. In 1920, they started making their own Coffee and Chicory Essence. This product later became Bickford's Iced Coffee Mix. It even won a gold medal at the All-Australian Exhibition in 1930!
Changes and New Owners
In 1930, Bickford's joined with several other Australian medicine companies. They formed a large group called "Drug Houses of Australia" (DHA). This group continued to make the "A. M. Bickford and Sons" products very well. Medicines and chemicals were sold under the DHA name. But the cordials and soft drinks kept the "A. M. Bickford and Sons" brand.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, DHA faced big financial problems. The company's products were split up and sold. Another company bought most of the medicine brands. A businessman from Melbourne bought the pharmacy products and the drinks. He kept the "A. M. Bickford and Sons" name for the drinks.
In 1987, the soft drink business was sold to the Lloyd family. Then, in 1999, the Kotses family bought it. This brought the Bickford's brand back to South Australia. The Kotses family then added many new products. These included new cordials, soft drinks, and milkshake mixes.
Bickford's Today
In 2005, the company, now called "Bickford's Australia", moved to a new, modern factory. This factory is in Salisbury, South Australia. Since then, Bickford's has grown a lot. They have partnered with other companies like Vok Beverages. In 2014, they also announced plans for a new distillery in South Australia.
What Bickford's Makes
Bickford's Australia makes many different kinds of traditional cordials, juices, and soft drinks today.
Traditional Cordial: You can find flavors like Lime Juice, Lemon Juice, Bitter Lemon, Lemon Barley, Lemon, Lime & Bitters, Sarsaparilla, Blackcurrant, Peach Tea, Raspberry, Ginger Beer, and Cloudy Apple.
Premium Juice: These include Berries & Açaí, Cloudy Pear, Pomegranate, Super Berry Antioxidant, Cranberry, Prune, Coconut, and Blueberry.
Classic Juice: Choices here are Tropical, Apple & Passionfruit, Apple & Blackcurrant, and Apple & Peach.
Old Style Soda: These fizzy drinks come in Lemon, Lime & Bitters, Ginger Beer, Creamy Soda, Original Kola, and Sarsaparilla.
Bickford and Sons Mixers: These are great for mixing with other drinks. They include Ginger Ale, Bitter Lemon, Tonic Water, and Soda Water.
Milk Mix: Add these to milk for a tasty treat! Flavors are Strawberry, Caramel, Vanilla Malt, and Chocolate.
Chiahh: These are special drinks with chia seeds. Flavors include Apple & Raspberry, Grape & Blackcurrant, and Tropical.
Esprit: These are light and refreshing drinks. You can find Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Orange Tangerine, Passionfruit, and Lemon Lime.
Bickford's also makes diet cordial options. Other products include Iced Coffee Syrup (which they have made since 1920), Fruities, and Robinson's Fruit Shoot juice drinks for kids. They also produce Aqua Pura bottled water.
More to Explore
- List of South Australian manufacturing businesses
- South Australian food and drink
