Kirks facts for kids
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Kirks creaming soda
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Beverage |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Founder | Reginald Larard and Gilbert E. Primrose |
| Headquarters |
Queensland
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| Parent | Coca-Cola Company |
Kirks is a popular Australian company that makes many different kinds of soft drinks. It started a long time ago in Queensland, Australia, way back in 1865. Today, Kirks is known for its wide range of fizzy drinks that Australians love.
Contents
The Story of Kirks Soft Drinks
How Kirks Began
Long ago, in 1881, two people named Reginald Larard (a chemist) and Gilbert E. Primrose (a businessman) started a company. It was called the Helidon Spa Water Company. They bottled special spring water from a place called Helidon in Queensland.
Another company, Owen Gardner and Sons, also sold drinks. In 1897, the Helidon Spa Water Company took Owen Gardner and Sons to court. They said Owen Gardner and Sons were using their special name, "Helidon Spa water."
Later, the rules about using these names became less strict.
The Name "Kirks"
After Owen Gardner, the owner of Owen Gardner & Sons, passed away in 1888, his sons took over. Later, a manager named Mr. T. Kirkpatrick helped run the business.
Mr. Kirkpatrick and a chemist named W. Doolan created a new drink called 'Kirk's Ginger Ale'. This drink became very popular for the company.
In the 1930s, Mr. Kirkpatrick left to work for a rival company called Tristram's. He started selling 'Kirk's Ginger Beer' under their brand. Owen Gardner & Sons took Tristram's to court to protect the "Kirk's" name. Owen Gardner & Sons won the case. Because the "Kirk's" name was so well-liked, the company decided to use it for all their soft drinks.
Joining Forces
In 1959, the Helidon Spa Water Company and Owen Gardner & Sons decided to join together. They wanted to compete better with new drinks like Coca-Cola coming into Australia. They formed a new company called Helidon Gardner Pty Ltd. They decided to use the popular name "kirk's" for their products.
Even though Kirks' packaging today says "Since 1865," it's not clear exactly what event that date refers to. It doesn't match when the first companies started or when the "Kirks" name was first used.
Kirks in the 1980s
During the 1980s, Kirks and other soft drink brands like Shelleys (from New South Wales) and Gest (from Western Australia) shared similar packaging and advertising. Each brand was sold mainly in its own state.
Becoming One Big Brand
In the year 2000, Kirks, Shelleys, and Gest joined with other brands like Halls (from South Australia) and Marchants. They all became part of Coca-Cola Amatil. All these different brands then started using the Kirks name across Australia.
This change aimed to remind people of the old days when local companies delivered soft drinks to homes. Some Kirks flavors are still only sold in certain states. This is because those flavors were originally made by local companies in those areas.
Kirks changed its packaging and advertising in 2006 and again in 2014 to look more modern.
Kirks Soft Drink Flavors
Many of Kirks' soft drink flavors came from smaller companies before they joined Kirks or Coca-Cola Amatil. Some of these drinks are still only sold in the region where they first started. Some are even seen as local favorites!
Kirks' Ginger Ale was first sold by Owen Gardner & Sons. This was before they merged with Helidon Spa Water Company to become "kirk's" in 1959. Before the big merger in 2000, Kirks sold its Creaming Soda under the name "Kandy."
Fruita and Sno Drop were originally made by Halls. Kole Beer was a product of Gest. Kirks' "Olde Stoney" Ginger Beer is the original Shelley's Old Style Stoney Beer. This name comes from the stone bottles that non-alcoholic ginger beer was sold in during the 1800s. Pasito and Creaming Soda are also original Shelley's flavors.
- Kirks Originals: Creaming Soda, Lemonade, Big Sars, Old Stoney Ginger Beer, Lemon Squash, Pasito, Portello, Ginger Ale (only in Queensland), Kolé Beer (only in Western Australia), Sno Drop (only in South Australia), Fruita (only in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania)
- Kirks Surprises Limited Edition: Strawberries and Cream, Watermelonade (like watermelon Chupa Chup), Lime Spider, Enchanted Fruits (raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry Chupa Chup), Sticky Toffee Apple, Tropical Bluetopia (pineapple and berry), Summer Sorbet (mango and peach), Fizzy Flamingo (peach and raspberry), Sunny Stardust (pineapple and strawberry).
- Mixer Drinks: Soda Water, Tonic Water, Dry Ginger Ale
- Other: Brewed Ginger Beer
Kirks also makes diet versions of some of its popular flavors.
See also
- List of brand name soft drinks products
- List of soft drink flavors
- List of soft drinks by country
