Wests (drink)

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Wests NZ Limited
IndustryManufacturing, Retail
Founded1876
Headquarters,
ProductsCordial, Soft drinks, Milkshakes
Websitewests.co.nz
Wests Chocolade - one of the unusual flavours for which this brand is known.

Wests NZ is a manufacturer of soft drinks and cordials based in Dunedin, New Zealand.[1] It is the oldest continuous manufacturer of soft drinks in New Zealand.[2]

History

Wests began production in 1876 when Tom West created a range of cordials[1] in the back of his grocery store in Maclaggan Street, Dunedin.[3] These proved popular with the city' early settlers and provided growth for the fledgling business. Production expanded to include ginger beer in 1906, and in 1914 a purpose-built factory was constructed in Saint Kilda in the south of the city.[3]

The business was owned by Alf and Kaye Loretan from 2007, before they sold it to Angela and Craig McFarlane in 2021.[1]

Products

Wests today produces soft drinks and cordials in a range of flavours, many of them unique to the brand.[citation needed] These include Chocolade (chocolate-flavoured lemonade), RedZenergy (Energy drink), Cola and Raspberry, and Pineapple and Pear. Wests also produce milkshake and slushy syrups, as well as postmix concentrates and soda syrup refills in a large variety of flavours.[citation needed]

Sugar Free

Many of Wests' regular soft drink flavours are also offered in sugar-free varieties, which has led to the company offering New Zealand's largest range of sugar-free soft drinks.[3]Diet milkshake as well as soda syrup flavours have recently also been added to the companies Sugar Free Range.[citation needed]

Factory shop

Located next to the production factory, Wests Factory shop offers the range of Wests' products as well as general convenience store products.

An age-restricted section of the store used to provide a variety of alcoholic products, however the store's liquor license was revoked in 2016. Dunedin City Council licensing staff and the medical officer of health had opposed the liquor license, but it had been granted regardless by the district licensing committee. The decision was appealed and sent to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority, which ruled that the license should be revoked. The decision was described as 'crazy' by the owner.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Cordial 'custodian' moving on", Otago Daily Times, 19 July 2021, archived from the original on 19 July 2021, retrieved 2 February 2024
  2. ^ "Kiwi beverage maker Wests Cordials seeks new owner", NZ Herald, 29 November 2019, retrieved 2 February 2024
  3. ^ a b c "Dunedin company enjoys taste of longevity", Otago Daily Times, 18 March 2014, retrieved 2 February 2024
  4. ^ "'Crazy' decision to strip Wests of liquor licence, owner claims", Otago Daily Times, 1 September 2016, archived from the original on 10 January 2023, retrieved 2 February 2024

External links