Kofola ČeskoSlovensko broadens range of soft drinks

Czech soft drinks producer Kofola ČeskoSlovensko has expanded its range to include fruit juices and iced teas.

The company has launched its own brand of fruit drinks, Curiosa, and announced the introduction of Dilmah Ice Tea, which will hit the shelves in early 2025.

Daniel Buryš, the CEO of Kofola ČeskoSlovensko’s business in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, said: “Our unique Curiosa fruit drinks are characterised by unconventional combinations of fruit and herbs, and possibly spices.

“By launching new products, we are also strengthening our ambition to offer healthier beverage alternatives on the market that do not contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners.”

The Curiosa range includes orange, apple, multivitamin and strawberry varieties. The drinks will come in a variety of formats, including 0.25l returnable glass bottles, 10l Bag-in-Boxes, as well as more common 0.5l PET bottles and 0.33l cans.

The launch of the range of juices follows the end of a distribution deal Kofola ČeskoSlovensko had with European juice group Rauch.

Kofola ČeskoSlovensko sales director Jaroslav Vích said: “With its flavour combinations, honest composition and attractive design, the Curiosa brand has the chance to bring modernity and originality to a relatively traditional category.”

For the launch of Dilmah Ice Tea range, Kofola expanded its partnership with Sri Lankan tea producer Dilmah.

The new iced teas will be crafted from “hand-picked leaves from the tea gardens of Sri Lanka”.

The products will be free of “artificial sweeteners, dyes and preservatives and will have a low sugar content”, Vích said.

The iced teas will be available in two flavours: black tea with peach and green tea with jasmine.

Kofola ČeskoSlovensko has distributed Dilmah’s Ceylon teas in the Czech and Slovak markets since 2019.

The company’s portfolio includes its flagship carbonated beverages Kofola and Vinea, as well as its water brands Radenska, Studenac and Rajec.

Kofola has 11 production plants across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia and Croatia. It employs roughly 2,000 staff.

Last year, the company entered beer with the acquisition of local brewer Pivovary CZ Group for an undisclosed sum. The deal allowed Kofola ČeskoSlovensko to branch out into the beer market, which it described at the time as a “stable segment” with room for growth in export markets.

Just Drinks