Vi-Co facts for kids

Vi-Co was a popular brand of chocolate milk in Canada. It was made by a company called Dairy Producers. Many kids and families enjoyed Vi-Co for its tasty chocolate flavor.

In 1995, another big dairy company called Dairyland bought Dairy Producers. After this happened, the Vi-Co chocolate milk line was stopped. So, Vi-Co drinks were no longer made or sold in most places.

Where Was Vi-Co Popular?

Vi-Co chocolate milk was mostly sold in certain parts of Canada. You could find it in the province of Saskatchewan and in some areas of Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Quebec. Even though the main Vi-Co brand stopped, a company in Beauce, Quebec, called Laiterie Royala, still uses the name Vico for one of their chocolate milk products today.

Vi-Co as a Slang Word

Even after Vi-Co stopped being sold widely, its name lived on! In Saskatchewan and Quebec, people sometimes still use "Vi-Co" as a slang word. This means they might call any chocolate milk "Vi-Co," even if it's from a different brand. It's a special local saying for these provinces and shows how much people liked the original drink. It's a fun part of the local history in Saskatchewan.

The History of Vi-Co

Vi-Co chocolate milk has a long history in Canada. It was available in Ontario as early as the 1930s. For example, the Bowmanville Dairy, which was owned by the Bettles family, advertised Vi-Co in a newspaper called the Canadian Statesman on August 27, 1936.

Vi-Co was also a special chocolate milk brand for the Sherbrooke Pure Milk Co. This company was in Sherbrooke, Québec, and operated from 1911 to 1976. Just like in other areas, the name Vi-Co is still commonly used in the Eastern Townships of Quebec to mean any chocolate milk.