Robinsons (drink) facts for kids
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| Type | Drink |
|---|---|
| Owner | Carlsberg Britvic |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1935 |
| Previous owners |
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| Tagline | Real Fruit in Every Drop |
| Website | |
Robinsons is a very old and popular British drink brand. It has been making fruit drinks for over 200 years! Most of their drinks are fruit cordials, which are concentrated fruit juices you mix with water. In the UK, these are often called "squash." Robinsons makes different kinds of drinks like Squash, Fruit Shoot, and Barley Water.
In 2022, Robinsons sold nearly £200 million worth of drinks. About half of all homes in Britain bought their products. People drink more than 9 million glasses of Robinsons every single day!
Contents
The Story of Robinsons Drinks
The company started way back in 1823. It was founded by George Robinson and Alexander Belville. At first, they were a shipping and trading company. They also made special barley and groats products.
A young girl named Mary Ann Robinson, who was 11, began selling homemade fruit juices. She made these from her family's farm. George Robinson left the business in 1859. Mary Ann, who later married James Nichols, kept growing the business.
Matthias Robinson found a way to use barley crystals. He started making barley water as a healthy drink. This first product quickly became popular. People loved its refreshing taste and thought it was good for them.
Over the years, Robinsons added many different drinks. They wanted to offer something for everyone. In the 1930s, Fred Robinson created Robinsons Squash. He found a way to make fruit squash using fresh fruit juices. This new drink became super popular. It quickly became a well-known part of British culture.
Key Moments in Robinsons History
- 1862: The company joined with Keen & Sons. They became Keen Robinson & Company.
- 1903: J & J Colman, a company known for mustard, bought Keen Robinson & Company.
- 1925: The company moved its production to Carrow, near Norwich. They made their drinks there until 2019.
- 1930: Mr. Eric Smedley Hodgson created a new drink. It mixed Robinsons' barley crystals with real lemon juice and sugar. This became Lemon Barley Water.
- 1935: Lemon Barley Water started being sold with a link to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
- 1955: Robinsons received a special honor from Queen Elizabeth II. They became the official soft drink supplier to the British Royal family.
- 1984: The company was bought by Cadbury Schweppes. Later, it was sold to Britvic.
- 1995: Britvic Soft Drinks Limited was formed. This happened when Britvic and Robinsons Foods Ltd joined together.
- 2000: The popular Fruit Shoot drink was launched.
- 2012: Britvic had to recall some packs of drinks. This was because of worries about the safety of their "spill proof Magicap" design.
- 2015: Robinsons removed all "added sugars" from its squash products.
- 2023: Robinsons updated the look of its product range. They wanted to appeal to modern families.
- 2024: Carlsberg agreed to buy Britvic.
Robinsons and Wimbledon Tennis
Robinsons has a long and special connection with the Wimbledon tennis tournament. Their partnership began in 1935. Robinsons became the official supplier of soft drinks for the event. Their Robinsons Barley Water became a favorite drink at Wimbledon.
The drink was first given to players to help them stay hydrated during matches. Over the years, Robinsons' presence at Wimbledon grew. Their brand was clearly seen all around the event.
After 86 years, the official sponsorship between Robinsons and Wimbledon ended in 2022. The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs the tournament, made this decision. They wanted to find new opportunities and partners. Even with this change, Robinsons' history at Wimbledon is still remembered. Their Barley Water is still linked to the traditions of this famous tennis championship.
External links
- Robinsons Fruit Shoot
