Nesbitt's
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.
. 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". 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 in April 1975, the bottling operation was sold to Moxie Industries, Inc. (now Monarch Beverage
) of Atlanta.
, the parent company that owns rights to the Big Red
soft drink brand, bought the Nesbitt's trademark from the Monarch Beverage Company
under its North American Beverages Products division, which also includes NuGrape
. Although Big Red, Ltd. only actively promotes its Nesbitt's California Honey Lemonade product, it licenses the brand to several small independent bottling companies.
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
soda pop
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
in the United States during much of the 20th century. Nesbitt's was produced by the Nesbitt Fruit Products Company of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The company also produced other flavors of soda pop under the Nesbitt's brand and other brand names.
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 CrushOrange Crush
Crush is a carbonated soft drink brand, originally marketed as an orange soda, which was invented by California beverage and extract chemist Neil C. Ward. Most flavors of Crush are caffeine-free.-History:...
. 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
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
(1946) and proclaiming itself to be the "Largest selling bottled orange drink in the world". Nesbitt's own brand of orange beverage was surpassed in popularity by Fanta
Fanta
Fanta is a global brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks from the Coca-Cola Company. There are over 90 flavors worldwide. The drink debuted in Germany in 1941 and originally sold only in Europe.-History:...
in the 1960s and faded in popularity. In 1972, the company was sold to The Clorox Company
Clorox
The Clorox Company is a US-based manufacturer of various food and chemical products based in Oakland, California, which is best known for its bleach product, Clorox.- History :...
, and in April 1975, the bottling operation was sold to Moxie Industries, Inc. (now Monarch Beverage
Monarch Beverage Company
The Monarch Beverage Company Inc is a diversified, international beverage company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company's CEO is Jacques Bombal. The company was founded in 1965 by Frank Armstrong. Monarch Beverage Company aimed to establish itself by offering lesser-known soft drink brands that...
) of Atlanta.
Resurrection and legacy
Nesbitt's continued to be owned by Moxie Industries through the late 1970s and the 1980s while use of the Nesbitt's brand (for non-bottling usage) 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, TexasWaco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, the parent company that owns rights to the Big Red
Big Red (drink)
Big Red is a soft drink that was created by Grover C. Thomsen and R.H. Roark in Waco, Texas and originally known as Sun Tang Red Cream Soda. It is generally considered to be one of many American varieties of cream soda, and is the original "red cream soda"...
soft drink brand, bought the Nesbitt's trademark from the Monarch Beverage Company
Monarch Beverage Company
The Monarch Beverage Company Inc is a diversified, international beverage company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company's CEO is Jacques Bombal. The company was founded in 1965 by Frank Armstrong. Monarch Beverage Company aimed to establish itself by offering lesser-known soft drink brands that...
under its North American Beverages Products division, which also includes NuGrape
NuGrape
NuGrape is a brand of grape-flavored soda pop. The NuGrape brand was invented in 1906, first bottled in 1921, and by April 1933, The National NuGrape Company was founded in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1922, licensing rights were sold to the Olla Bottling Works in Olla, Louisiana where it was made and...
. Although Big Red, Ltd. only actively promotes its Nesbitt's California Honey Lemonade product, it licenses the brand to several small independent bottling companies.