Vimto facts for kids
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A glass of Vimto
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| Type | Soft drink |
|---|---|
| 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 mixes the juices of grapes, raspberries, and blackcurrants. It also has special herbs and spices for its unique taste.
Vimto started in Manchester, northern England. It was first made in 1908 as a healthy tonic. Later, it became a cordial (a concentrated syrup you mix with water). Much later, it was also made as a fizzy drink. John Noel Nichols invented the recipe.
Today, Nichols plc makes Vimto in the UK. You can find it in cans and bottles. It comes in fizzy, still (non-fizzy), and cordial forms. Vimto is also used to make sweets, ice lollies, and other treats. It's very popular in northern England. Vimto is also sold worldwide and is a big hit in Arab Gulf countries, The Gambia, and Senegal.
Contents
The Story of Vimto
Vimto was created in 1908. John Noel Nichols (1883–1966) made it in Manchester. He sold herbs, spices, and medicines. John saw a chance to sell soft drinks. This was because of the temperance movement, which encouraged people to drink less alcohol.
The drink was first called Vim Tonic. In 1912, Nichols made the name shorter to 'Vimto'. It was first registered as a health tonic. Then, in 1913, it was registered as a cordial.
In 1910, Vimto production moved to a warehouse in Salford. Later, in 1927, it moved to Old Trafford. In 1971, a new, modern factory opened in Wythenshawe, Manchester. The company's main office moved to Newton-le-Willows in 1999.
In 1992, a special oak sculpture was made. It's called "A Monument to Vimto." Kerry Morrison created it. You can find it on Granby Row in central Manchester. This is where the first Vimto factory was. The statue was fixed and repainted in 2011.
In 2021, Vimto got a new logo design. This new look was used across all its products.
How Vimto is Made
Today, Refresco makes Vimto. They produce it in Leicestershire and Lancashire. They make it for Vimto Soft Drinks, which is part of Nichols plc. Nichols stopped making its own drinks in 2003.
Vimto is also made in other countries. These include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, The Gambia, and Ghana. A newspaper article in 2007 said it was the most popular drink during Ramadan in some Arab countries. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims.
In 2014, the recipe for Fizzy Vimto changed. It started to include artificial sweeteners. These were Acesulfame K and Sucralose.
The Company Behind Vimto
Cabana is a part of Nichols plc. It helps distribute Vimto drinks. Cabana works with many independent distributors across the UK.
Vimto is sold in 65 countries around the world. The number of countries where you can buy Vimto keeps growing.
Vimto Flavors and Types (UK)
In the UK, you can buy Vimto in two main ways. There's a still, concentrated version called "Vimto Cordial." You mix this with water. There's also a fizzy, ready-to-drink version called "Fizzy Vimto."
Vimto started in Northern England. Now, you can find it all over the UK and in many other countries. The cordial version is sold more widely. It comes as a concentrate or as a ready-to-drink bottle.
Vimto is also available as a slush drink. There are many other Vimto sweets too. These include Vimto bars, lollipops, and Jelly Babies.
There's also a summer Vimto flavor. It has ingredients like orange and apple. These are also cordial products. In 2006, Vimto was the fastest-growing soft drink brand in the UK.
People often drink Vimto hot. They just add boiling water to the concentrate. This is very popular in northern England, especially in winter. Some people even take hot Vimto to sports events in flasks to stay warm.
Over the years, new Vimto flavors have been made. "Cherry Vimto" and "Strawberry Vimto" are now part of the regular range. In 2016, "Vimto Remix" was launched. This range had different fruit mixes each year. For example, mango, strawberry, and pineapple in 2016. The "Remix" name was dropped in 2021, but new flavor mixes are still made.
Some people make their own Vimto drinks at home. You can make a Vimto Milkshake by adding milk instead of water to the cordial. You can even add vanilla ice cream for a "Vimto Milkshake Special."
In June 2023, Vimto launched an energy drink. It's 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 very popular for over 80 years. It's often the drink of choice for iftar. Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during Ramadan. In 2013, over 20 million bottles were made each year for the GCC market.
In Saudi Arabia, Vimto is made by the Aujan Industrial Company. It has a huge share of the cordial drink market there. Every year, the company runs big advertising campaigns on TV. These ads have become very popular online too.
Vimto came to India in 1924 during the time of British rule. It was also introduced to The Gambia and Senegal in the 1980s. It is still very popular in those countries.
In 2011, Vimto became widely available again in the Republic of Ireland. You can find it in stores like Tesco and Iceland.
In Pakistan, Mehran Bottlers makes Vimto. In Nepal, Himganga Beverage Pvt Ltd makes it. In Ghana, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Ltd makes Vimto.
Logos
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An old Vimto logo from the early 20th century
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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 used on some products internationally
See also
