Nesbitt's
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nesbitt's was a popular brand of orange-flavored soda pop in the United States during much of the 20th century. Nesbitt's was produced by the Nesbitt Fruit Products Company of Los Angeles, California. The company also produced other flavors of soda pop under the Nesbitt's brand and other brand names.
[edit] History
The Nesbitt's Fruit Products Company was founded in 1924, named after its founder Hugh S. Nesbitt. The Nesbitt's brand debuted in 1927, initially as part of the company's line of soda fountain-products. Nesbitt's began bottling Nesbitt's orange in either 1938 or the following year, putting it in direct competition with established market-leader Orange Crush. [1] Nesbitt's became the U.S. market leader of orange soda pop during the late 1940s and 1950s, with advertisements featuring a then-unknown model named Marilyn Monroe (1946) and proclaiming itself to be the "Largest selling bottled orange drink in the world". [2] Nesbitt's own brand of orange beverage was surpassed in popularity by Fanta in the 1960s and faded in popularity. In 1972, the company was sold to The Clorox Company and ceased to exist in any form by 1976. [3]
[edit] Resurrection and legacy
The Nesbitt's trademark was passed along to several companies from 1976 through 1998, including ownership by Borden Inc. in the late 1980s. In 1999, Big Red, Limited of Waco, Texas, the parent company that owns rights to the Big Red soft drink brand, bought the Nesbitt's trademark from the Monarch Beverage Company. Although Big Red, Ltd. only actively promotes its Nesbitt's California Honey Lemonade product [4] [5], it licenses the brand to several small independent bottling companies. [6]
- In March of 2008, some 8th graders happened find a Nesbitt's 1938 can in the Yosemite National Park.
