WHEN THE ADULTS QUENCHED THEIR THIRST WITH “SKOPSKO” AND “SODA-WATER”, AND THE YOUNGSTERS ENJOYED”COLA”, “ORANGE”, “MANGO” AND”BITTER-LEMON”

In the 70’s Pivara Skopje got the honor to continue the tradition of another big famous Macedonian company, the famous “Biserka”. With the merger of the two enterprises, Pivara Skopje increased its capacity, acquired quality experts and workers, and also expanded the range of quality beverages. Thus, in addition to the famous “Skopsko”, the brewery also started producing the famous soft drinks “Cola”, “Mango”, “Orange”, “Bitter-lemon”, “Tonic”, “Pineapple” and “Soda-water”. Following the graphs of production and sales that Pivara Skopje kept in its annual newsletters in the period of the 70’s and 80’s, one can notice an interesting trend. In the summer period, the sale of beer showed an expected growth, while during the New Year holidays, the demand for juices increased. This is an indication that these soft drinks were pretty popular on the Macedonian market, but also more widely, especially among the younger population.

The numerous quality awards that they will bring to Pivara Skopje speak for the justification of their popularity. Back in 1977, during the Skopje International Fair “SKOMESA 77”, among other awards for other products, Pivara Skopje also won a silver medal for its “Soda-Water”. The next year, Pivara Skopje will repeat the success at the International Fair of the Food Industry in Zagreb. Then in 1979, practically all non-alcoholic beverages produced by Pivara Skopje will win medals at the Zagreb Spring Fair. From here, international recognitions from world-renowned institutions are already starting to line up. In the same year 1979, “Orange” and “Cola” won a gold medal at the “Monde Selection” in Paris. Throughout the following decade, Pivara Skopje won numerous awards for its non-alcoholic beverages in other European centers such as: Vienna, Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Luxembourg, Rome, Lisbon.

Thanks to the already proven and recognized quality of its products, in 1991 Pivara Skopje received the special license to be the official bottling plant of “The Coca Cola Company” products. In the years to come, the brewery’s product range will include the world-famous Coca-Cola, Schweppes, Fanta, Bonaqua, and Sprite. In 2009, Pivara Skopje received the highest recognition from “The Coca Cola Company” by being declared the company that produces the best Coca-Cola in the world. The same success is repeated in 2013, which means that Pivara Skopje is counted among the few companies in the world that are the bearers of this significant recognition. Being a member of the big family of the Coca-Cola Company is indeed a great honor, but it is certainly worth being nostalgic and remembering the times when in the neighborhood stores, on the summer vacations or during formal family dinners in restaurants around the country you’d hear: “And do you have ‘Cola’ or ‘Orange’?”

The text is adapted and reworked from the original research project of HAEMUS entitled “Study on the history of Parnata Pivara AD Skopje”, commissioned and supported by Pivara Skopje.
Prepared by: Vasilka Dimitrovska, M.Sc., Aleksandar Madzovski
Photo: Archives of Pivara Skopje, Archives of Yugoslavia (Belgrade, Serbia), private family archives
Archive source: NUB “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Skopje, DARMS – Department Skopje (Archives of the City of Skopje), Archives of Pivara Skopje, Official Gazette of the NRM, Archives of Yugoslavia (Belgrade, Serbia).