Vimto facts for kids
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A glass of Vimto
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| Type | Soft drink |
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| Manufacturer | Nichols plc |
| Distributor | Cabana |
| Country of origin | England |
| Region of origin | Manchester |
| Introduced | 1908 |
| Colour | Purple |
| Flavour | Mixed fruits |
Vimto is a popular British soft drink. It's made from the juice of grapes, raspberries, blackcurrants, and black carrots. It also has special herbs and spices for its unique taste.
Vimto was first created in 1908 in Manchester, England. It was invented by John Noel Nichols. At first, it was sold as a healthy tonic, like a special health drink. Later, it became a fizzy drink. Today, you can find Vimto in many forms, like fizzy cans, still bottles, and even as a cordial (a concentrated syrup you mix with water). It's also used to make sweets, ice lollies, and other treats. Vimto is very popular in the north of England. It's also sold all over the world, especially in countries in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
Contents
History of Vimto
How Vimto Started
Vimto was invented in 1908 by John Noel Nichols in Manchester. He used to sell herbs, spices, and medicines. At that time, many people were looking for non-alcoholic drinks. John Nichols saw this as a chance to create something new.
He first called his drink "Vim Tonic." The word "vim" means energy or strength. In 1912, he shortened the name to "Vimto." It was first sold as a health tonic, but by 1913, it was known as a cordial. The exact recipe for Vimto is a secret! Only a few people know how to make it.
Where Vimto Was Made
In 1910, Vimto production moved to a warehouse in Salford. Later, in 1927, it moved to Old Trafford. By 1971, Vimto was made in a modern factory in Wythenshawe, Manchester. The company's main office moved to Newton-le-Willows in 1999.
Vimto's Monument
In 1992, a special wooden sculpture called "A Monument to Vimto" was put up in central Manchester. It's located where the first Vimto factory used to be. The statue was fixed up and repainted in 2011.
New Look for Vimto
In 2021, Vimto updated its logo. This new design is now used across all its products.
How Vimto Is Made
Vimto is currently made by a company called Refresco. They make it for Vimto Soft Drinks, which is part of Nichols plc. Nichols plc stopped making the drinks themselves in 2003.
Vimto is also made in other countries under a special agreement. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, The Gambia, and Ghana. In some Arab countries, Vimto is a very popular drink during the holy month of Ramadan. In West Africa, it is still seen as a health tonic.
In 2014, the recipe for Fizzy Vimto was changed. It now includes artificial sweeteners.
The Vimto Company
Cabana is a part of Nichols plc. It helps distribute Vimto drinks across the UK. Vimto is sold in 65 countries around the world, and this number keeps growing!
Different Kinds of Vimto
In the UK, you can buy Vimto in two main ways:
- Vimto Cordial: This is a concentrated syrup that you mix with water.
- Fizzy Vimto: This is a ready-to-drink carbonated (fizzy) version.
Vimto started in Northern England, but now you can find it everywhere. The cordial version is very popular. For a long time, Vimto cordial was suitable for vegans. However, in April 2021, vitamin D was added, which comes from sheep's wool.
Other Vimto Products
Vimto is also available as a slush drink. There are many Vimto-flavored sweets too, like Vimto bars, lollipops, and jelly candies.
You can also find Vimto Energy, which is an energy drink. It has natural caffeine and real fruit juice.
Vimto also has a summer flavor. This version includes orange and apple. In 2006, Vimto was one of the fastest-growing soft drink brands in the UK.
Hot Vimto
Many people in the north of England enjoy Vimto as a hot drink. They simply add boiling water to the cordial. It's a popular warming drink, especially in winter. People sometimes take it to sports events in a flask to stay warm.
New Flavors
Over the years, Vimto has introduced different flavors. You can find "Cherry Vimto" and "Strawberry Vimto." In 2016, a new range called "Vimto Remix" was launched. These drinks have different fruit mixes each year. For example, in 2016, it was mango, strawberry, and pineapple. In 2017, it was raspberry, orange, and passionfruit. The "Remix" name was removed in 2021, but new flavor mixes are still being introduced.
People also make their own Vimto drinks at home. Some mix the cordial with milk to make a Vimto Milkshake. Others add vanilla ice cream for a "Vimto Milkshake Special."
In June 2023, Vimto launched a new energy drink called Vimto Energy. It comes in a regular version with sugar and a sugar-free version.
Vimto Around the World
In the Arabian Peninsula, Vimto has been a favorite drink for over 80 years. It's especially popular during Ramadan, for the evening meal called iftar. In 2013, a company in Saudi Arabia was making over 20 million bottles of Vimto each year for that region. About 15 million bottles were sold during the one-month Ramadan season in 2007.
In Saudi Arabia, Vimto is made by the Aujan Industrial Company. They have a very large share of the market for concentrated drinks. Every year, they have big advertising campaigns on TV and online.
Vimto was first brought to India in 1924. It also became popular in The Gambia and Senegal in the 1980s, where it is still enjoyed today.
Since 2011, Vimto has been widely available again in the Republic of Ireland. It is sold in stores like Tesco and Iceland.
Vimto is also made under special agreements in Pakistan, Nepal, Cyprus, and Ghana. In 2024, Vimto officially entered the Malaysian market.
Logos
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An old Vimto logo from the early 1900s
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A vintage Vimto logo used until the 1980s
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An older Vimto logo used until 2014 in Britain
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The current Vimto logo since 2021 in Britain
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The current Vimto logo for the Arab market
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An old style Vimto logo still found on some products internationally
2024 Product Recall
On April 5, 2024, Nichols plc recalled some 500ml bottles of Vimto. This happened because of a mistake on the packaging. The bottles said "no added sugar," but they actually contained sugar.
See also
