Iconic Southern soda embraces its heritage and launches a real sugar product
BIRMINGHAM, ALA (April 27, 2016) – Grapico kicks off a yearlong celebration of its 100th birthday with the launch of vintage-inspired packaging and a real sugar version that will be available in glass bottles. The new branding touts the grape soda as “A Southern Thing” and embraces the quirks and eccentricities that make the region and Grapico unique.
“This is a special year for us as one of our brands turns 100, which just doesn’t happen very often,” said James C. Lee III, chairman and CEO of Buffalo Rock. “Grapico was first bottled in New Orleans in 1916 before our company acquired the worldwide rights in 1981 and really focused on developing the brand, which has been a regional favorite for generations.”
“Grapico has a devoted consumer following,” said Buffalo Rock President and COO Matthew Dent. “These loyal consumers are the reason the brand has reached this milestone, and we are confident Grapico fans will be excited about the real sugar offering and the new look.”
Buffalo Rock tapped its longtime agency, o2ideas, to develop the packaging and campaign.
“We feel privileged to have such a longstanding relationship with Buffalo Rock, and grateful that they trust us with an institution like Grapico on this very special occasion,” said Ellen Hutchings, creative director at o2ideas. “Grapico’s look has gone through a number of changes over the course of a century. For its 100th anniversary, we’ve enjoyed taking it back to its roots and calling on the nostalgia and affection that people have for this uniquely Southern brand.”
The new packaging and real sugar product is now available on store shelves in Alabama, western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Visit grapico.com and facebook.com/grapico for updates on special events and promotions.
About Buffalo Rock Company:
Buffalo Rock Company is one of the nation’s largest privately held, family-owned Pepsi and Dr Pepper bottlers. The company employs more than 2,100 employee-partners who service a population of more than seven million consumers throughout Alabama, western Georgia and the panhandle of Florida. James C. Lee III, chairman of the board and CEO, and fourth-generation Lee, leads the locally focused company that has been in business for more than 115 years. The company continues to evolve its operations and brand portfolio to meet the needs of the ever-changing beverage and snack consumer. For more information about Buffalo Rock Company, visit buffalorock.com.
About o2ideas, Inc.:
o2ideas is an advertising, digital marketing and public relations company with a long history of helping its clients succeed. With offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and Chicago, Illinois, o2 has the pleasure to work with truly amazing people at some of the world’s most admired companies. o2ideas is minority-owned, certified by NMSDC and a member of Worldwide Partners, the world’s largest owner-operated agency network. To find out what makes o2 different from any other agency, visit o2ideas.com.