Current Exhibits
225 Schwepping Years
n 1783 Joseph Schweppe established the oldest surviving
soft drink company in the world in Geneva and soon opened a
factory in London. He perfected the process of combining carbon
dioxide with water to make “soda water.” Through the years, the
company introduced new flavors and additives such as ginger and
sarsaparilla, which enhanced the drinks and led to the company's
success.
Well-established as a company in England by the early 1800s, Schweppe has withstood a growing number of competitors. It received several awards that increased its noteriety. In 1831, Schweppes was awarded the Royal Warrant as the official supplier of carbonated beverages to the British Royal Household. Schweppes also received a boost in 1851 when it won the bid to supply carbonated beverages at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Today the symbol of their participation of this great event, a water fountain, can still be seen in the logo of the brand.
Over the years, Schweppes has continued to add to its product line. In 1870 Tonic Water became popular with the British in India because the quinine in it prevented malaria.
The company continued its successful ventures in the 20th century with clever advertising campaigns using imaginative play on words like Schweppervescence, Schweppesicolor, Schweppesman, and Schweppshire. Advertisements combined confidence, humor, and class to appeal to a sophisticated consumer.
In 1969 Schweppes merged with Cadbury, the world's largest confectionary business, creating Cadbury Schweppes. As part of their expansion, Cadbury Schweppes bought several beverage brands, including Dr Pepper in 1995. This made the company of one the largest beverages producers in the world. In April 2008, the beverage company will be spun off to create Dr Pepper/Snapple.