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Kofola

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Kofola
TypeSoft drink
ManufacturerKofola ČeskoSlovensko a.s.
OriginCzechoslovakia (present day Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Introduced1960; 66 years ago (1960)
ColourCaramel
VariantsKofola Original
Meruňka/Marhuľa (apricot)
Meloun/Melón (watermelon)
Malina (raspberry)
Ostružina (blackberry)
Angrešt/Egreš (gooseberry)
Guarana
Bez cukru (zero sugar)
Višňa (cherry)
Citrus
Vanilka (vanilla)
Ananas (pineapple)
Černý rybíz/Čierna ríbezľa (blackcurrant)
Related products
Websitekofola.cz

Kofola (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkofola]) is a carbonated soft drink produced by the eponymous Czech company, which is headquartered in Krnov. It is the principal rival of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company is one of the leading soft drink producers and distributors in Central and Eastern Europe.[1]

History

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A glass and a bottle of Kofola

Kofola originated in the Czechoslovak Research Institute of Medicinal Plants in Prague in 1959, during research targeted at finding a possible use for surplus caffeine produced in the process of coffee roasting.[2] The resulting dark-coloured, sweet-and-sour syrup, kofo, became the main ingredient of a new soft drink introduced in 1960.[3] During the 1960s and 1970s, Kofola became popular in communist Czechoslovakia, successfully competing with Western cola drinks like Coca-Cola or Pepsi, which were generally available after 1968 (Pepsi in 1974) but were expensive. In the present day, Kofola is a popular option in restaurants, as it can be draught-poured from kegs. Since 1998, Kofola has been bottled (in addition to classic 0.33-litre glass bottles) in 0.5-litre and 2-litre plastic bottles. 0.25-litre cans were introduced in 2003, and 1-litre plastic-bottles in 2004.

Presentation

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Until 2000, the Kofola logo featured a coffee bean.[4] It now resembles a coffee flower.

In 2003, Kofola created a Christmas TV commercial that became one of the most successful ads on Czech television. It was regularly screened during Christmas in subsequent years.[5]

Company

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Kofola ČeskoSlovensko a.s.
TypeJoint-stock company
ISINCZ0009000121
Headquarters
Krnov
,
Czech Republic
RevenueIncrease EUR 263.6 million[6] (2015)
Increase EUR 21.6 million[6] (2015)

After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, Kofola had to compete with foreign brands that entered the new open market. In 2000, the brand was purchased by the Samaras family from Opava.[7]

In 2008, Kofola announced a merger with the Polish lemonade producer Hoop.[8] Later that year, the Polish private equity fund Enterprise Investors acquired 42.46% of Kofola-Hoop for approximately €140 million.[9]

In 2009, Kofola acquired Pinelli and has since produced the energy drink Semtex.[10] In 2014, Kofola purchased the Slovenian mineral water brand Radenska.[11]

In 2018, the company took a 100% stake in the Czech herbal tea producer Leros.[12]

In 2023, Kofola acquired a majority stake in Pivovary CZ Group, which produces beer under the brands Holba, Zubr, and Litovel.[13]

Ingredients

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Kofo syrup, the main ingredient of Kofola, consists of 14 herbal and fruit ingredients (such as extracts from apple, cherry, currant, or herbal aroma), sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup (2014), and caramel.

Products

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Kofola Lemon, Sugar-Free, Original, Vanilla, and Walnut

Cocktails

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References

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  1. ↑ "Enterprise Investors partially exits Kofola". Enterprise Investors. 4 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Kofola oslavuje 65 rokov. Ako sa písal príbeh lásky, nezameniteľnej chuti a úspešného podnikania?" [Kofola celebrates 65 years. How was the story of love, unmistakable taste, and successful business written?]. Kofola (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Ako vznikla Kofola. Chuť Ameriky sa zrodila v laboratóriu" [How Kofola was created. The taste of America was born in a laboratory]. INDEX (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Kofola". www.kofola.cz. Archived from the original on 16 June 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kultovní reklamy: Prasátko bylo plaché, spot na Kofolu se dotáčel" [Iconic commercials: Piglet was shy, the spot was filmed on Kofola] (in Czech). iDnes. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Skupina Kofola značne povyrástla. Zásluhu na tom má priaznivé počasie, ale aj úspešné akvizície" [The Kofola Group has grown significantly. This is due to favorable weather, but also to successful acquisitions.] (in Slovak). 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Jannis Samaras, nenápadný majitel Kofoly" [Jannis Samaras, the inconspicuous owner of Kofola]. Jak být úspěšný (in Czech).
  8. ↑ "The Merger between Czech Kofola Holding and Hoop of Poland". Research and Markets. 12 August 2008.
  9. ↑ Röbisch, Markus (18 November 2008). "Enterprise Investors acquires 42.46% in a Public Tender Offer of Kofola-Hoop". Investment Intelligence s.r.o. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  10. ↑ "Pinelli, spol. s r.o." Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Akcie Kofoly zahájily mírným růstem" [Kofola shares started with a slight increase] (in Czech). iHNed.cz. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "Kofola kupuje českého výrobce bylinných čajů Leros, cenu transakce firmy zatím nezveřejnily" [Kofola buys Czech herbal tea producer Leros, the companies have not yet disclosed the transaction price]. Hospodářské noviny (HN.cz) (in Czech). 13 March 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  13. ↑ Horáček, Filip (22 November 2023). "Kofola vstupuje do piva. Kupuje značky Holba, Zubr a Litovel – Seznam Zprávy" [Kofola enters beer. Buys Holba, Zubr and Litovel brands – Seznam Zprávy]. seznamzpravy.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Čeko Libre Archived 20 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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