Kofola is a carbonated soft drink produced in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is the principal rival of Coca-Cola and Pepsi on the two markets.

History

Kofola originated in Czechoslovak pharmaceutical company Galena in the early 1960s during the research targeted on finding possible use of surplus caffeine produced in the process of coffee roasting. Resulting dark-coloured, sweet-and-sour syrup Kofo became the main ingredient of a new soft drink named Kofola introduced in 1962.

During the 1960s and 1970s Kofola became exceedingly popular in communist Czechoslovakia because it substituted unavailable Western cola-based drinks like Coca-cola or Pepsi. After the fall of Communist regime in 1989, Kofola had to compete with many foreign brands that entered the attractive newly opened market. After a period of decline and trademark lawsuits (many companies produced their own "kofola", although it had nothing to do with the original one - just because it was an established trademark), in 2000 Santa nápoje company, residing in Czech Krnov and owned by Greek Samaras family , became the only producer and distributor of Kofola in Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In 2002, the company built a new factory in Rajecká Lesná , Slovakia, to satisfy the demand on Slovak market. In 2003, Santa nápoje changed its name to Kofola, a.s.. Apart from Kofola it also produces other soft drinks (Top Topic, Jupí, Jupík, RC Cola) exported to Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. The company's intention is to build a factory in Poland as well.

Since 1998 Kofola has been bottled (in addition to classical 0.33-litre glass bottles) in half-litre and 2-litre PET-bottles. In 2003, 0.25-litre cans have been introduced. Kofola draught from 50-litre kegs, traditionally sold at many bars and restaurants across the two countries is very popular as well.

Since 2002 the producer has launched a successful media campaign aimed at a young and hip audience based on the slogan "Když ji miluješ, není co řešit. / Keď ju miluješ, nie je čo riešiť." ("If you love her nothing else matters.") Until 2000, Kofola logo pictured a coffee bean. Now it resembles a coffee flower.

Sales

In Slovakia, Kofola is the most dangerous rival of both Coca-cola and Pepsi. In 2003, 14,28 million litres of Kofola were sold on Slovak market, in 2004 Kofola sales reached 19,44 million litres. According to 2004 survey, 17% of Slovak cola-based soft drink consumers buy Kofola most frequently, compared to 14% preferring Coca-cola. Kofola market share doubled in the period of last three years (4,6% in 2002, 9,4% in 2004). Kofola thus occupies third position on Slovak market, after Coca-cola (11,5% in 2004) and Walmark (9,6%), preceding Pepsi (5,5% in 2004).

Ingredients

Kofo syrup, the main ingredient of Kofola, consists of 14 natural ingredients (such as extracts from apple, cherry, currant or herbal aroma), sugar and caramel. In comparison with Pepsi or Coca-cola it contains 30% less sugar, 50% less caffeine and it does not contain phosphoric acid.

In 2004, new lemon-flavoured Kofola Citrus was introduced.

External links

• Czech homepage
• Slovak homepage
• Kofola catching up with Coke (article in Slovak)