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| Type | Soft drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Kofola ČeskoSlovensko a.s. |
| Country of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Introduced | 1960; 65 years ago (1960) |
| Colour | Caramel |
| Variants | Kofola Originál, Meruňka, Meloun, Malina, Ostružina, Angrešt, Guarana, Bez cukru, Višňová, Citrus |
| Related products | Coca-Cola,Pepsi,Polo Cocta |
| Website | www |
Kofola (Czech pronunciation:[ˈkofola]) is a carbonatedsoft drink produced by the eponymous Czechoslovak company, which is headquartered inKrnov,Czech Republic. It is the principal rival ofCoca-Cola andPepsi in the Czech Republic andSlovakia. The company is one of the leading soft drink producers and distributors inCentral andEastern Europe.[1]
Kofola originated in theCzechoslovak Research Institute of Medicinal Plants inPrague in 1959, during research targeted at finding a possible use for surpluscaffeine produced in the process ofcoffee roasting. The resulting dark-coloured, sweet-and-soursyrupKofo became the main ingredient of a newsoft drink namedKofola, introduced in 1960. During the 1960s and 1970s, Kofola became exceedingly popular in communistCzechoslovakia, successfully competing with Westerncola drinks like Coca-Cola or Pepsi, which were generally available after 1968 (Pepsi in 1974), but were expensive and considered as for high society. Even today, Kofola is a popular option in restaurants as it can be draught-poured from kegs right into a glass.
Since 1998, Kofola has been bottled (in addition to classic 0.33-litre glass bottles) in 0.5-litre and 2-litreplastic bottles. 0.25-litre cans were introduced in 2003, and 1-litre plastic-bottles in December 2004. Kofola draught from 50-litre kegs, traditionally sold in many bars and restaurants across the two countries, remains popular as well.
Since 2002, the producer has run 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, there is nothing to question"). Until 2000, the Kofola logo featured acoffee bean. It now resembles a coffee flower.
In 2003, a Christmas TV commercial was created on Kofola, which became one of the best-known and most successful Czech TV commercials. It regularly appears on Czech TV channels every year over Christmas.[2]
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| Company type | Joint-stock company |
|---|---|
| ISIN | CZ0009000121 |
| Headquarters | , Czech Republic |
Key people | Daniel Buryš (Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO) |
| Revenue |  EUR 263.6 million[3] (2015) |
| EUR 21.6 million[3] (2015) | |
After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, Kofola had to compete with many foreign brands that entered the newopen market. After a period of decline and trademark lawsuits (many companies produced their own similar-tasting "kofola" because the term became agenericized trademark), in 2000 theSanta nápoje company, owned by theGreek-immigrantSamaras family, became the only producer and distributor of Kofola in theCzech Republic andSlovakia.[4] Other producers of similar drinks had to rename their products (most notable Slovakian Hejkola and Šofocola. Šofocola was rebranded as Lokálka, but it's the same drink).[citation needed]
The companySanta nápoje originally produced Kofola drink only in the parent factory inKrnov. In 2002, the company built a new factory inRajecká Lesná,Slovakia, to satisfy the demand of the Slovak market. In 2003,Santa nápoje changed its name toKofola, a.s. and later toKofola ČeskoSlovensko a.s.[5] Apart from Kofola it also produces othersoft drinks, the spring water Rajec, the fresh fruit juices UGO, the syrups Jupí and children's drink Jupík,RC Cola under license and from 2008 the grape drinkVinea, that are exported toPoland,Hungary,Slovakia andCroatia.
In 2008, Kofola announced a merger with the Polish lemonade producer Hoop.[6] In autumn 2008, the Polish Private Equity fund Enterprise Investors acquired in a Public Tender Offer 42.46% of Kofola-Hoop for approximately €140 million.[7] In 2009, the Polish company Kofola-Hoop S.A. was renamed into Kofola S.A.
In April 2009, Kofola acquired Pinelli and since then has produced the energy drinkSemtex. In 2010, Kofola opened a new factory inMnichovo Hradiště. In December 2014, Kofola boughtSlovenian factory for mineral waterRadenska.[8]
In 2018, the company took a 100% stake in Czech tea producer Leros.[9]
At the end of 2018, the Kofola Group operated in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia,Russia,Austria and Hungary.[10]
At the end of November 2023, the company announced that it's acquiring the majority stake in Pivovary CZ Group. Buying this group of breweries producing beers under the brands Holba, Zubr and Litovel, the company entered the beer market of Czech Republic.[11]
Kofosyrup, the main ingredient of Kofola, consists of 14 herbal and fruit ingredients (such as extracts fromapple,cherry,currant, or herbalaroma),sugar and/orhigh fructose corn syrup (2014), andcaramel. In contrast with Pepsi or Coca-Cola, it contains 30% lesssugar, ~56% morecaffeine (15 mg/100ml, Coca-Cola 9.6 mg/100ml) and does not containphosphoric acid.[12][13]
A Christmas limited edition with a hint ofcinnamon was introduced at the end of 2007, and was only available around the Christmas period. In 2011–2016 was sold another variant of the drink calledKofola Extra Herbal, it was extended withdandelion,gentian andpeppermint. Other flavours introduced in limited editions include:cherry,pomegranate,almond,gingerbread,chocolate,coconut,walnut,plum,pear andmandarin. A 2019 Christmas edition is with a hint ofapple and a bit of cinnamon.
The most popular cocktail with kofola is ahighball made of kofola, CzechTuzemák (domesticrum) andlemon juice calledKofrum,Handlová Libre,Student lemonade,Rebel orChequia Libre.[14] Kofola withpilsnerlagerbeer is calledKofola 'n' Beer orDiesel.
