Craft soda

Hand-crafted cream soda

Craft soda is a soft drink that is produced in small quantities from natural ingredients.[1] Craft soda is in most cases made with sweeteners other than sucrose (sugar) or high-fructose corn syrup and contains sparing amounts of preservatives.[2] Craft soda is often innovative in terms of raw materials and flavors.

Some of the literature adds that craft soda producers need to be authentic and small, or even local market only, and independent of major soft drink companies. Still, those big companies are trying to capitalize on the popularity of these types of drinks with craft soda-like products.[3]

Craft soda is a certain trend in the U.S., with a market share of 1% in 2015,[4] but in 2018 it also became noticeable in the Netherlands and Belgium. An American market researcher estimated the world market value for craft soda in 2016 at USD 537.9 million and expected sales in this segment to increase sharply.[5]

Small quantities

Craft soda is typically associated with small quantities that are sometimes only sold locally. The German Fritz-kola started out in Hamburg in this manner, but is now sold throughout Germany and shipped to many nations throughout Europe.[6]

There are a wide variety of small brands in the US, often sold locally or within one state. Occasionally such a brand reaches a larger market, such as Ozark Mountain.[4] Whether such expansion occurs is highly dependent on whether or not a local brand is picked up by larger distributors, such as retail chains.[5]

Notable producers

For much of its history, Ale-8-One in Winchester, Kentucky, established in 1926,[7] was only available in central and eastern portions of Kentucky. In April 2001, the Ale-8-One Bottling Company expanded its distribution to areas of southern Ohio,[8] and southern Indiana, through an agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises. Later, distribution to eastern Tennessee and far western Virginia was added. It is also available in some parts of West Virginia.

Brooklyn Soda Works is a small-scale artisanal craft soda company based in Brooklyn, New York[9] that operates out of a commercial kitchen in Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.

Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company is a brewery in Dover, Delaware that produces a line of craft sodas in addition to its beer production.[10]

Sprecher Brewery is a brewery in Glendale, Wisconsin that produces its own line of beers, craft sodas and flavored malt beverages.[11] In October 2021, the company acquired the Chicago-based WBC and Green River craft soda brands.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Meyer, Zlati (May 28, 2017). "Craft soda makers add fizz to flat soft drink sales". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "The newest, hippest drink pouring into a glass near you: Craft soda". Washington Post. September 1, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "Gaan we na speciaalbier nu ook aan de ambachtelijke frisdrank?". Business Insider Nederland (in Dutch). October 15, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Goodwin, Juliana (March 19, 2016). "A hit lemonade recipe sparks a growing craft soda company". News-Leader. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Craft Soda Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Natural, Organic), By Target Consumer (Teenagers, Young Adults, Middle-Aged Adults), By Distribution Channel, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025". Grand View Research. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Mihala, Lorelei (August 16, 2020). "The two students who took on Coke and Pepsi". BBC News. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  7. ^ Kleber, J.E. (2014). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-8131-5901-0. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Pirnia, G. (2017). The Beer Cheese Book. University Press of Kentucky. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-8131-7467-9. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  9. ^ Donovan, T. (2013). Fizz: How Soda Shook Up the World. Chicago Review Press. p. 229. ISBN 978-1-61374-725-4. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  10. ^ Russo, T.; Lutz, J. (2016). Delaware Beer: The Story of Brewing in the First State. American Palate. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-62585-687-6. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Rovito, Rich (October 27, 2021). "Sprecher Eyes National Growth With Purchase of Craft Soda Brands". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved June 18, 2022.

Further reading