Lorina

Lorina is a uniquely French all-natural artisanal soda. The brand is distributed in France and abroad.

The brand belongs to Ets Geyer Freres. Since 1895, the factory has been located in Munster, a small village in Moselle. Jean-Pierre Barjon has acquired the business in 1997 and has never stopped developing the company since then. There is one subsidiary in Miami since 2001.

History

Foundation in 1895

In 1895 Victor Geyer concocts the Lorina’s French “Limonade” in his minuscule shop in Munster, a small village in Moselle famous for its collégiale. Victor makes exclusively his elixir from local products: water from a spring near his tiny workshop, sugar lovingly extracted from Erstein village beets; lemon juice from the finest lemons produced in Grasse. He chooses to crown his first etched-glass bottles with a small mechanical stopper. This elegant miracle of a capsule replaces the outdated glass balls that topped older bottles of lemonade and is key to maintaining the effervescence of Victor Geyer’s first sparkling soda for months on end. After Victor’s death in 1924, his two sons Victor Junior and Ernest Geyer take the torch of the family business. A few years later, Andrew, son of Victor Junior, will join them.

1963: Succession by Yves Kesseler

In 1963, Yves Kesseler, husband of Solange Geyer (Ernest Geyer’daughter), joined the limonaderie along with André Geyer. He represents the third generation to be in charge of the company.

1995: the renewal with Jean-Pierre BARJON

In 1995, Jean-Pierre Barjon, Vice President of an Alstom’subsidiary, discover the Ets Geyer by reading an article in the French newspaper Liberation.[1] This is one of the last “limonaderies” in France; endangered because of an heir lack.

As a visionary person, Jean-Pierre Barjon decides to buy the limonaderie with the idea to bring up to date this drink from our childhood.[2] Respecting the tradition, the Lorina’s lemonades from Victor Geyer are famous everywhere. In 1997, Lorina win the NAFST award as “outstanding beverage” in New York.[3] Real success story, Lorina has established itself in less than 10 years as a leader on the premium soft drinks market, both in France and abroad; thanks to natural recipes, differentiated packaging and a premium positioning. “As Proust’s Madeleine, this sparkling lemonade tastes childhood” says Jean-Pierre Barjon.[4]

The sparkling lemonade icon

In its elegant engraved bottle, topped with a mechanical stopper, it now embodies the icon of sparkling lemonade. Since its relaunch in 1995, the artisanal sparkling lemonade LORINA has established itself in the retail industry in France and abroad. The iconic bottle often appears in Hollywood blockbusters such as “Legally Blonde“ [5] in 2001 and “Seven Pounds” [6] in 2008.

The Lorina brand abroad

From Geyer brothers to Lorina, a brand’s birth

It’s in 1946 that Victor Geyer’sparkling lemonade took the name LORINA, which is now the main brand of the company. Auguste Geyer, Victor Junior & Ernest sailor brother, suggests that they baptize the sparkling lemonade by naming it after the “Lorina”,[7] a giant English steamer that had saved thousands of soldiers from certain death on the beaches of Dunkirk in May 1940. 2. Presence in over 40 countries The Lorina products are sold in nearly 40 countries:[8] mainly in Europe, Asia and America. A subsidiary has been opened in 2001 in the US (Miami); it represents its biggest overseas market.

The collection : French « Limonade » and Tasty Fruit based Premium CSD’s offer

France

Lorina has different offers in France: - The Clear sparkling Lemonade, “artisanal recipe” since 1895 - The “everyday recipe” sparkling lemonade, regular or sugar free - The fruit carbonated soft drinks with various recipes: Sicilian Lemon, Pomegranate, Pink, Coconut Lime and Lime, etc.… - The Single Serve fruit carbonated soft drinks, for grab & go, with various recipes: Sicilian Lemon, Pomegranate, Pink and Coconut Lime, etc.… Some of our Sparkling lemonades are organic certified.

International

Lorina has two main offers, available in many recipes (Lemon, Frenchberry, Pear, Pomegranate, etc.…): - The Prestige offer, in its iconic glass bottle with a mechanical stopper - The Premium French Soda offer, available in both family size and single serve, which celebrates the “Parisian style soda”.

Awards

• NAFST Fancy Food Show New-York, 1997, Award Finalist • Special Jury Prize, 2002, performance Lorraine • Entrepreneur of the Year Award, by Le nouvel Economiste Région Lorraine, 2007 • Prize LSA, 2009, Innovation oscar award

References

  1. ↑ Libération, August 1995
  2. ↑ Jean-Pierre Barjon interview, May 2006
  3. ↑ Echos n°21215 du 28th June 2012
  4. ↑ Jean-Pierre Barjon interview in Les Echos, June 2007
  5. ↑ Legally blonde
  6. ↑ Seven pounds
  7. ↑ British Cruise liner Lorina, sunk the 29th May 1940
  8. ↑ Les Chos, July 2013

External links