Kofola originated in the CzechoslovakResearch Institute of Medicinal Plants in Prague now Czech Republic in 1959, during research targeted at finding a possible use for surplus caffeine produced in the process of coffee roasting. The resulting dark-coloured, sweet-and-sour syrupKofo became the main ingredient of a new soft drink named Kofola introduced in 1960. During the 1960s and 1970s Kofola became exceedingly popular in communist Czechoslovakia because it substituted for Western cola drinks like Coca-Cola or Pepsi, which were not generally available. Even today, Kofola is a popular option in restaurants as can be draught from kegs right into glass. Since 1998 Kofola has been bottled in 0.5-litre and 2-litre plastic bottles. 0.25-litre cans were introduced in 2003, 1-litre plastic-bottles in December 2004. Kofola draught from 50-litre kegs, traditionally sold in 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". Until 2000, the Kofola logo featured a coffee bean. It now resembles a coffee flower.
Company
After the fall of the 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, in 2000 the Santa nápoje company, owned by the Greek-immigrant Samaras family, became the only producer and distributor of Kofola in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Other producers of similar drinks had to rename their products. The company Santa nápoje originally produced Kofola drink only in the parent factory in Krnov. In 2002, the company built a new factory in Rajecká Lesná, Slovakia, to satisfy the demand of the Slovak market. In 2003, Santa nápoje changed its name to Kofola, a.s. and later to Kofola ČeskoSlovensko a.s. Apart from Kofola it also produces other soft 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 to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia. In 2008 Kofola announced a merger with the Polish lemonade producer Hoop. 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. 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 in Mnichovo Hradiště. In December 2014, Kofola bought Slovenian factory for mineral water Radenska.
Ingredients
Kofo syrup, the main ingredient of Kofola, consists of 14 herbal and fruit ingredients, sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup, and caramel. In comparison with Pepsi or Coca-Cola it contains 30% less sugar, ~56% more caffeine and it does not contain phosphoric acid.
Products
Kofola Original – original distributed in 0.5 l, 1 l, 1.5 l, 2 l plastic bottles, in 0,25 l and 0.33 l glass and in 0.25 l cans
Kofola Citrus – with a hint of lemon, it was introduced in 2004, distributed in plastic bottles
Kofola Bez Cukru – sugar-free alternative was introduced in 2008, available in plastic bottles
Kofola Višňová – sour cherry-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2008, available in plastic bottles and cans
Kofola Vanilka –vanilla-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2013, available in plastic bottles
Kofola Guarana – energy drink with Kofola and guarana-flavor introduced in 2013, available in plastic bottles and cans
Kofola Meruňka –apricot-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2015, available in plastic bottles
Kofola Meloun – watermelon-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2016, available in plastic bottles
Kofola Černý Rybíz – blackcurrant-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2017, available in plastic bottles and cans
Kofola Malina – raspberry-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2017, available in plastic bottles
Kofola Ostružina – blackberry-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2018, available in plastic bottles
Kofola Ananas – pineapple-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2018, available in cans
Kofola Grep – grapefruit-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2018, available in cans
Kofola Angrešt – gooseberry-flavoured Kofola introduced in 2019, available in plastic bottles
The most popular cocktail with kofola is a highball made of kofola, Czech Tuzemák and lemon juice called Kofrum, Handlová Libre, Student lemonade, Rebel or Chequia Libre. Kofola with pilsnerlager beer is called Kofola 'n' Beer or Diesel.
