R. White's facts for kids
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R. White's lemonade, est. 1845
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| Type | Carbonated lemonade |
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| Manufacturer | Carlsberg Britvic |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1845 |
| Related products | Tango |
R. White's is a popular British brand of fizzy lemonade. It is made and sold in the United Kingdom by a company called Carlsberg Britvic. The very first R. White's lemonade was made by Robert and Mary White in Camberwell, south London, way back in 1845.
Over the years, the company grew a lot. In the 1960s, a company called Whitbread took over R. White's. Later, in 1986, it became part of Britvic when Britvic and another company merged.
In the 1970s, R. White's also made other fizzy drinks like orangeade, dandelion and burdock, and cream soda. The lemonade recipe has changed a bit over time. It used to be made only with sugar, but now it also uses sweeteners like aspartame. R. White's still uses real lemons and comes in different types. You can find regular, diet, Traditional Cloudy, Raspberry, Pear, and Elderflower flavors. A famous TV advertisement from the 1970s, called "Secret Lemonade Drinker," was even voted one of the best UK TV ads ever!
Contents
History of R. White's Lemonade
How R. White's Started
The story of R. White's began in 1845. Robert and Mary White started by selling homemade ginger beer from a wheelbarrow in Camberwell, London. Today, you can still see a wheelbarrow on R. White's packaging. This is a special way to remember where the company came from.
The business quickly became popular. By the late 1860s, they had five places where they made drinks and 16 storage spots across England. R. White's focused on making lemonade. They took over another company that made drink mixers. This made R. White's the biggest soft drink company in London and the south-east of England. Robert White's sons, Robert James and John George, joined the business, and it became R. White & Sons Ltd.
Flavors and Bottles Over Time
By 1887, R. White's made many different flavors and products. All their drinks were sold in special glass bottles called Codd’s glass bottles. Some of the flavors they offered included strawberry soda, raspberry soda, cherryade, cream soda, pineapple cider, ginger beer, and soda water. At the start of the 1900s, they sold more than 40 different kinds of soft drinks!
R. White's During World Wars
During the First World War (1914-1918), over 100 R. White employees joined the armed forces. The company also helped the government by providing many of their horses and delivery vans. In the Second World War (1939-1945), the government took many of their vehicles for the army. During the bombing raids on London, called the Blitz, three of their main factories in London were destroyed.
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R. White's delivery vehicles before 1914
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R. White's refreshments stall in the early 1900s
Marketing and Famous Advertisements
The "Secret Lemonade Drinker" Campaign
In 1973, R. White's launched a very famous advertising campaign called "Secret Lemonade Drinker." The adverts showed an actor named Julian Chagrin in his pajamas. He would sneak downstairs at night to get R. White's Lemonade from the fridge. His wife, played by Harriet Philpin, would often catch him.
A singer named Ross McManus wrote and sang the catchy song for the advert. His son, Declan McManus (who later became famous as Elvis Costello), sang the backing vocals. These commercials were the brand's most well-known advertisements. They continued to be shown until 1984 and even won an award in 1974.
Later "Secret Lemonade Drinker" Ads
The "Secret Lemonade Drinker" character came back in 1993. This time, actor and comedian Julian Dutton played the role. Many famous people appeared in these commercials, including comedians Ronnie Corbett and Frankie Howerd, actor Nicholas Parsons, tennis player John McEnroe, and footballers Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves.
One version of the advert was even dubbed entirely in Japanese! Another version featured the cartoon character Mr Benn, with the voice of his original narrator. In 2000, the "Secret Lemonade Drinker" advert was ranked seventh in a TV poll of "The 100 Greatest TV Ads" in the UK. Julian Chagrin and Harriet Philpin, the original actors, even returned in 2012 to advertise R. White's Lemonade Lollies.
See also
