Kia-Ora facts for kids
| Type | Soft drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Region of origin | Sydney |
| Introduced | 1903 |
Kia-Ora (pronounced KYOR-uh) is a popular fruit drink concentrate. This means you mix it with water to make a tasty drink! It's made by a company called Atlantic Industries, which is part of The Coca-Cola Company. Kia-Ora has been enjoyed by people for a long time, especially in places like Ireland.
Contents
History of Kia-Ora
How Kia-Ora Got Its Name
The name "Kia-Ora" comes from the Māori language, which is spoken in New Zealand. In Māori, "kia ora" is a friendly greeting, like saying "hello" or "be well."
The Start in Australia
The very first Kia-Ora drink was a lemon squash. It was sold in Sydney, Australia, in 1903 by a person named Arthur Gasquoine. Later that same year, the Dixon family bought the brand. Roland Dixon opened the first factory in Melbourne. The original factory chimney is still standing today and is considered a historical building!
New Flavors and Spreading Out
The first bottle ever made is still kept by the Dixon family. Early flavors included orange, lemon, and even a special Chilli Cordial. Kia-Ora was then launched in Great Britain in 1917, starting with orange and lemon flavors.
As Kia-Ora became more popular, the Dixon family added many new flavors. These included orange mixed fruit, raspberry, and pear. They also created versions with no added sugar. Kia-Ora stayed popular throughout the 1900s, especially with children in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Advertising and Changes
In the 1950s, Kia-Ora started using bright, full-color posters to advertise their drinks. In 1961, an American company called Campbell Soup Company bought Kia-Ora.
The brand became very well-known in the U.K. in the 1970s. You could often find ready-to-drink cartons of Kia-Ora in cinemas. In 1982, Kia-Ora launched a famous animated advertising campaign. It featured a catchy song that went "We all adore a Kia-Ora." The ads showed a boy, a dog named Fedora, and some crows. The boy would say, "it's too orangey for crows!" These advertisements later faced some criticism for how certain characters were shown.
In 1987, the brand updated its look and ads. New characters were introduced, including the boy's father, and the jingle got new versions.
Decline and Current Status
Over time, Kia-Ora's popularity started to decrease as other juice brands became more popular. Eventually, Coca-Cola stopped making most of the flavors, keeping only the sugar-free orange and sugar-free mixed fruit. In 2019, Coca-Cola stopped making Kia-Ora in the UK, but it is still produced in Ireland.
Kia-Ora Flavors
Flavors You Can Find Now
- Kia-Ora Orange (no added sugar)
- Kia-Ora Mixed Fruit (no added sugar)
- Kia-Ora Blackcurrant
Flavors That Are No Longer Made
- Kia-Ora Orange, Pineapple and Passion Fruit
- Kia-Ora Orange (with added sugar)
- Kia-Ora Mixed Fruit
- Kia-Ora Pear & Blackcurrant
- Kia-Ora Raspberry
See also
