The Pop Shoppe: Canada’s Soft Drink Icon Goes Hard

If you liked it as a kid, you’ll love it as an adult.

That’s the thinking behind the creation of vodka-infused coolers bearing The Pop Shoppe brand, a discount pop from the 1970s that was relaunched 15 years ago and has found success with both the growing craft soda and retro markets.

A pair of “hard soda” flavors were launched recently—Cream Soda and Lime Ricky—and if early results are any indication, there will be more to come.

Stefan Kergl, vice-president for Beverage World, the Hamilton, Ontario-based company that bought The Pop Shoppe brand in February 2016, has a good handle on half of the target market, as he’s part of it.

“I was born in 1970. We felt (hard sodas) were the perfect fit for the older generation to indulge in a blast from the past,” he said.

If you need further proof that craft and retro sodas are on the upswing, look no further than Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which have been heavily promoting their colas in old-school glass bottles.

But Kergl is also well aware of the fact that liquor stores across Canada are increasingly stocking alcohol-fuelled versions of popular drinks, including Rock Star and Snapple.

“We know The Pop Shoppe has a large Canadian following and national brand equity. (Introducing hard sodas) was a good move,” he added.

Every day is Throwback Thursday at the Pop Shoppe!