Vimto

Vimto was created in 1908 in Manchester by John Noel Nichols (1883–1966), a wholesaler of herbs, spices and medicines.{{Cite web | website= Manchester.ac.uk | url= http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=7415 | title= Famous Vimto monument gets a makeover | access-date= 14 May 2015 | archive-date= 18 May 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150518101344/http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=7415 | url-status= live }}. He saw the market opening for soft drinks due to the temperance movement and the passage of the Licensing Act 1904.{{Cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Holt|date=2005|title=Demanding the Right to Drink: The two great Hyde Park demonstrations |magazine=Brewery History|volume=118| pages=26-40 |url=http://www.breweryhistory.com/journal/archive/118/bh-118-026.html |access-date=2023-03-22 |archive-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322231948/http://www.breweryhistory.com/journal/archive/118/bh-118-026.html |url-status=live }} It was originally sold under the name Vim Tonic ({{Wikt-lang|en|vim}} meaning 'vigour'), which Nichols shortened to 'Vimto' in 1912. Vimto was originally registered as a health tonic or medicine, which was then re-registered in 1913 as a cordial.{{Cite web | url = http://www.vimto.co.uk/history.aspx | website = Vimto.co.uk | title = History | access-date = 23 March 2018 | archive-date = 9 April 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180409022335/http://www.vimto.co.uk/history.aspx | url-status = live }}.{{Cite web | url = http://www.hatads.org.uk/ | title = The Vimto Archive | website = Hatads.org.uk | access-date = 27 October 2015 | archive-date = 23 May 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200523094628/https://www.hatads.org.uk/ | url-status = live }} The concoction formula is a guarded trade secret with only 4 people appointed in keeping the recipe.

In 1910, production moved to a warehouse at Chapel Street, Salford, then to Old Trafford in 1927, and in 1971, to a state-of-the-art plant in Wythenshawe, Manchester. In 1999, the company's head office moved to Newton-le-Willows in St Helens, Merseyside.

From the 1990s to 2003, Vimto print advertisements used the cartoon character Purple Ronnie, along with slightly rude poems by Giles Andreae, the creator of Purple Ronnie. In 2003, Purple Ronnie was dropped, and a new creative direction was adopted, revolving around the benefits of 'Shlurpling the Purple'. This, in turn, led to the launch in 2006 of Billy and his Dad's Pants–a modern-day morality story in which, despite turning up at the swimming pool with his Dad's pants in the middle of his rolled-up towel, Billy wins out with ingenuity and humour. The theme tune 'Dad's Pants' become something of a cult classic, and was based on the Loudon Wainwright III song "Dead Skunk".{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/everyones-singing-about-dads-pants-1040478|title=Everyone’s singing about dad’s pants|work=Manchester Evening News|date=10 August 2006|accessdate=8 April 2024}}

File:At Manchester 2018 024.jpg|left]]An oak sculpture entitled "A Monument to Vimto" was created by Kerry Morrison and installed on Granby Row–the location of the original Vimto premises–in central Manchester in 1992. The statue was restored and repainted in 2011.{{cite web |url= http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/buildings/statues.html |title= Manchester Statues & Monuments |publisher= Papillon Graphics' Virtual Encyclopaedia of Greater Manchester |access-date= 29 May 2009 |archive-date= 12 May 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120512071554/http://manchester2002-uk.com/buildings/statues.html |url-status= usurped }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/08/15/150808_vimto_100_feature.shtml |publisher=BBC Manchester |title=The centre of a purple world |date=15 August 2008 |access-date=26 May 2009|archive-date=19 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219060140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/08/15/150808_vimto_100_feature.shtml |url-status=live }}

In 2021 Vimto introduced a new logo design across the range.{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Éilis |date=20 January 2021 |title=Vimto unveils new logo design |url=https://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/soft-drinks/vimto-unveils-new-logo-design-20-01-2021/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=Talking Retail |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/soft-drinks/vimto-pays-tribute-to-heritage-with-brand-revamp/652299.article#:~:text=The%20new%20look%20maintains%20the,shelf%20standout%E2%80%9D%2C%20said%20Vimto.|title=Vimto pays tribute to heritage with brand revamp|first=Abbie |last=Dawson|work=The Grocer|date=20 January 2021|accessdate=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306001423/https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/soft-drinks/vimto-pays-tribute-to-heritage-with-brand-revamp/652299.article|archive-date=6 March 2021|url-status=live}}

Vimto is currently produced by Refresco{{Cite web|url=https://www.refresco.com/en/about-us/our-history/|title=Our history | Refresco|website=Refresco.com|access-date=20 November 2021|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120192814/https://www.refresco.com/en/about-us/our-history/|url-status=live}} (formerly Cott Corporation) in both Leicestershire and Lancashire on behalf of Vimto Soft Drinks, a division of Nichols plc.{{citation needed|date=October 2010}} Nichols moved out of manufacturing in 2003 when it closed its final production site in Golborne.{{cite web |url=http://www.wigantoday.net/news/celebrating_a_hundred_years_in_the_life_of_1_186923 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222201508/http://www.wigantoday.net/news/celebrating_a_hundred_years_in_the_life_of_1_186923 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2013 |title=celebrating a hundred years in the life of... |work=Wigan Today |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=2008-05-29 |access-date=2010-10-02 }}

Vimto is also manufactured under licence in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, The Gambia, and Ghana. A Sunday Times article in 2007 claimed it to be the most popular drink during the holy month of Ramadan in some Arab countries.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/vimto-peps-up-ramadan-faithful-hf25f9zvbxc|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=14 October 2007|title=Vimto peps up Ramadan faithful|last=Hashash|first=Sara|access-date=2009-08-05 | location=London}} The drink in its original incarnation is still maintained as a health tonic among West Africans and is marketed as such there.{{cite interview|title=Vimto Makes a Spalsh in Malaysia|url=https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/vimto-makes-a-splash-in-msia|publisher=BFM 89.9|date=6 Mar 2025|interviewer=Keith Kam|first=Matt|last=Nichols}}

The drink was also made under licence in the United Kingdom by A.G. Barr in 1996.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In 2014, the recipe for Fizzy Vimto was changed to include artificial sweeteners, Acesulfame K and Sucralose.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Ellis Wilkinson Mineral Water facilitated the production of drinks for Vimto in their early days of trading.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

A subsidiary of Nichols plc, Cabana is the distribution arm of the company, and operates via a UK-wide network of distributors that are, in the main, independent. In Scotland and Sussex, the distributor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cabana (Scotland–Cariel, and Sussex–Beacon Drinks now closed).

Vimto is currently available in 65 countries and the number of countries in which it is on sale is growing.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vimtointernational.com/map/ |title=competitions |access-date=3 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819021229/http://www.vimtointernational.com/map/ |archive-date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}

File:Vimto - 26131200534.jpg

File:Vimto can.jpg

Both a still, dilutable version ("Vimto Cordial") and a carbonated premixed version ("Fizzy Vimto") are available in the UK. While Vimto has its origins in Northern England, it can now be found both nationally and internationally. The cordial version is more widely sold and is available in concentrate and ready-to-drink varieties. The cordial version was widely known for being suitable for vegans until Vimto added vitamin D,{{cite web|url=https://www.vimto.co.uk/faqs/is-vimto-vegetarian-and-what-about-us-vegans/|url-status=live|title=Is Vimto Suitable For Vegetarians and Vegans?|publisher=Vimto|date=4 February 2023|archive-date=4 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204125014/https://www.vimto.co.uk/faqs/is-vimto-vegetarian-and-what-about-us-vegans/}} which is derived from sheep's wool,{{cite journal | vauthors = Holick MF | title = The vitamin D epidemic and its health consequences | journal = The Journal of Nutrition | volume = 135 | issue = 11 | pages = 2739S–2748S | date = November 2005 | pmid = 16251641 | doi = 10.1093/jn/135.11.2739S | url = http://jn.nutrition.org/content/135/11/2739S.full.pdf| doi-access = free}} in April 2021.

Vimto is also available in a slush variety alongside many other different Vimto confectionery products, such as Vimto bars, lollipops, Rip Rolls, candy sprays, and Jelly Babies.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Vimto is also available in the form of an energy drink, Vimto Energy, made with natural caffeine and real fruit juice.

Vimto is also available in a summer flavour, containing ingredients such as orange and apple, both of which are cordial products. Vimto was the UK's fastest-growing soft drinks brand by value in 2006 (as measured by Nielsen Corporation).{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

An alcoholic cocktail known as the Cheeky Vimto or "Crazy Vimto" is also drunk in the UK. However, Vimto is not an ingredient of this beverage, and the name comes from its resemblance to the original product; instead, it contains port and Blue WKD. There is also a variant of this cocktail called "Dirty Vimto" that replaces the port with Buckfast Tonic Wine.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

File:Vimto chewy sweets.jpg

Vimto is also often made as a hot beverage by simply adding boiling water to the concentrate,{{Cite web|url=https://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/grocery/vimto-goes-hot-17-09-2012/|title=Vimto goes hot!|website=Talkingretail.com|date=17 September 2012|access-date=16 February 2020|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216211617/https://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/grocery/vimto-goes-hot-17-09-2012/|url-status=live}} and is popular in this form throughout the north of England. Vimto is often made with hot water, especially during the winter months. It is also taken to sporting events in vacuum flasks by spectators as a warming drink to fend off the winter chill.

Various alternate-flavoured variants of Vimto were introduced over the years; cherry- and strawberry-flavoured variants, known as "Cherry Vimto" and "Strawberry Vimto", have become part of the range. In 2016, a new variant, "Vimto Remix", was introduced. This range consists of various alternate flavour mixes that were introduced each year – mango, strawberry and pineapple in 2016, raspberry, orange, and passionfruit in 2017, watermelon, strawberry, and peach in 2018 and strawberry, orange and lime in 2019. The "Remix" name was eventually dropped after the drink was rebranded in 2021, while new flavour mixes continue to be introduced.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Homemade variations include a Vimto Milkshake made by adding milk instead of water to the cordial, and a Vimto Milkshake Special involving the same with vanilla ice-cream added.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In June 2023, Vimto launched an energy drink, called Vimto Energy.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-02 |title=Vimto Energy |url=https://www.vimto.co.uk/vimto-range/product/vimto-energy/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Vimto |language=en-GB}} It is currently available as a normal version with sugar and a sugar free (zero) version.{{Cite web |title=Vimto Energy Drinks |url=https://www.vimto.co.uk/vimto-range/energy/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Vimto |language=en-GB}}

File:Vimto UAE.jpg

In the Arabian Peninsula, Vimto ({{Langx|ar|ڤيمتو}}) has had over 80 years of dominance as the beverage of choice for the iftar or sunset feast during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-12 |title=Why do people drink Vimto at Ramadan? {{!}} Esquire Middle East – The Region’s Best Men’s Magazine |url=https://www.esquireme.com/culture/why-arabs-drink-vimto-ramadan-iftar-facts |access-date=2025-03-10 |language=en-US}} As of 2013, Aujan, the local bottler in Saudi Arabia, has been producing over 20 million bottles per year for the GCC market.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-23455612| work=BBC Magazine| location=London| title=Vimto hits purple patch in the Gulf| first=Simon| last=Atkinson| date=2013-07-26| access-date=2016-02-23| archive-date=26 January 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126013411/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-23455612| url-status=live}}

An article in The Sunday Times mentioned some 15 million bottles were sold during the one-month season in 2007.{{cite news| url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/article73467.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625102621/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/article73467.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 June 2016 | newspaper=The Times | location=London | title=Vimto peps up Ramadan faithful | first=Sara | last=Hashash | date=2007-10-14 | access-date=2016-06-19}}File:Vimto.jpgIn Saudi Arabia, Vimto is manufactured under licence by the Aujan Industrial Company and has a 90% market share in the cordial concentrated drinks market.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ameinfo.com/|title=AME Info: Middle East & Gulf News|website=Ameinfo.com|access-date=20 November 2021|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120000950/https://www.ameinfo.com/|url-status=live}} Every year, the company launches aggressive marketing campaigns on Arab satellite TV channels that in recent years have become very popular, and achieved cult status with viral marketing videos exchanged on the Internet.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Vimto was introduced in India in 1924 during the colonial period.{{Cite web |title=Vimto's Heritage {{!}} Our Journey Since 1908 So Far |url=https://www.vimto.co.uk/our-heritage/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Vimto |language=en-GB}} Vimto was introduced to The Gambia and Senegal in the 1980s, where it remains popular.[https://web.archive.org/web/20220818010011/http://www.vimtotrade.co.uk/content/files/100facts.pdf]

In 2011, Vimto once again became widely available throughout the Republic of Ireland, through Tesco and the local version of Iceland shops.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In Pakistan, Vimto is produced under licence by Mehran Bottlers.{{Cite web|date=2019-05-10|title=Mehran Bottlers Ltd: A taste of Pakistan|url=https://www.littlegatepublishing.com/2019/05/mehran_bottlers/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510090346/http://www.littlegatepublishing.com/2019/05/mehran_bottlers/|archive-date=2019-05-10|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Littlegate Publishing|language=en-GB}}

In Nepal, Vimto is manufactured under licence by Himganga Beverage Pvt Ltd.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In Cyprus, Vimto is manufactured under license by Kean. {{Cite web |title=Vimto - Kean |url=https://kean.com.cy/kean-drink-products-el/vimto/?lang=el}}

In Ghana, Vimto is manufactured under licence by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Ltd.{{cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201306251671.html|title=Ghana: Coca-Cola Launches Vimto Soft Drink in Kumasi|website=Allafrica.com|access-date=20 November 2021|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810100206/http://allafrica.com/stories/201306251671.html|url-status=live}}

It officially broke into the Malaysian market in 2024; though Malaysian consumers have already been acquainted with the brand years prior through the Middle Eastern version in specialty stores (kedai Arab) unofficially provided by AM Avenue Trading, also a local distributor of Barbican.

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File:Vimto quotes vintage logo.jpg|A variant of the vintage Vimto logo that was used earlier in the 20th century

File:Vimto vintage logo.png|Vintage Vimto logo that was used until the 1980s

File:Vimtologo.png|Older Vimto logo until 2014 (in Britain)

File:Vimto logo.svg|Current logo since 2021 (in Britain)

File:Vimto Arabic logo.png|Current Vimto logo for the Arab market

File:Vimto Can.jpg|Old style Vimto logo still produced on some products internationally

On 5 April 2024, Nichols plc recalled 500ml bottles of Vimto due to a packaging error.

The bottle stated there was no added sugar, but the bottle contains sugar.{{Cite web |title=Product Recall Notice - Vimto |url=https://www.vimto.co.uk/product-recall-notice-vimto-original-500ml/ }}

{{portal|England|Drink}}

• Ribena
• Sosyo

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.vimto.co.uk Vimto UK web site]
• [https://www.vimto.com Vimto international web site]
• [http://www.bsf.org.uk/arc_2003.html#VS03 British Society of Flavourists lecture about Vimto]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621071824/https://www.bsf.org.uk/arc_2003.html#VS03 |date=2006-06-21 }}

Category:1908 establishments in England

Category:British soft drink brands

Category:Products introduced in 1908

Category:Soft drinks

Category:Energy drinks

Category:Monuments and memorials in Manchester

Category:Tourist attractions in Manchester