Ribena fruit drink

Ribena is an iconic British fruit juice brand, best known for its blackcurrant-based drinks and concentrates. The brand was originally created in 1933 at the University of Bristol by scientist Dr. Vernon Charley, who was researching fruit syrups for milkshakes. It was officially launched in 1938 by the Bristol-based manufacturer H.W. Carter & Co. During World War II, Ribena gained significant fame when the British government distributed the vitamin C-rich syrup to children and expectant mothers for free as a health supplement due to wartime citrus shortages.

Over the decades, ownership of the brand transitioned through several major pharmaceutical and consumer goods companies, including Beecham Group and later GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). In 2013, the brand was acquired by the Japanese beverage conglomerate Suntory. Today, Ribena is a central part of the Suntory Beverage & Food division. While the brand has global reach, its primary manufacturing remains rooted in the United Kingdom, specifically at the historic Royal Forest Factory in Coleford, Gloucestershire, which has been in operation since the 1940s.