View source for Ribena

{{short description|Blackcurrant-based drink}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{infobox beverage
| image        = Ribena logo 22.svg
| caption      = Logo used since 2020
| type         = [[Soft drink]]/fruit juice concentrate
| manufacturer = [[Suntory]]
| distributor  = Suntory
| founded      = 
| origin       = [[England]]
| region       = [[Bristol]]
| introduced   = {{start date and age|1938}} (H.W. Carter & Co)
| discontinued =
| colour       = Purple
| flavour      = [[Blackcurrant]]<br/>[[Strawberry]]<br/>[[Blueberry]]<br/>[[Orange (fruit)|Orange]]
| variants     =
| related      =
| website      = {{URL|ribena.co.uk}}
}}
[[File:Ribena blackcurrant juice drink.jpg|thumb|Ribena blackcurrant juice drink]]
'''Ribena''' ({{IPAc-en|r|aɪ|ˈ|b|iː|n|ə}} {{respell|rye|BEE|nə}}) is a British brand of [[blackcurrant]]-based [[soft drink]] (both uncarbonated and carbonated), and [[Squash (drink)|fruit drink concentrate]] designed to be mixed with water. It is available in bottles, cans and multi-packs. Originally of [[England|English]] origin,  it was produced by the pharmaceutical company  [[GlaxoSmithKline]] (GSK) until 2013, when the brand was sold to Japanese beverage conglomerate [[Suntory]].

The brand originally had a strong reputation as a healthy product for children, stemming from its distribution to children  as a [[vitamin C]] supplement during [[World War II]] by the British government. [[Beecham Group|Beecham]], a company that has been part of GSK since 2000, bought the brand in 1955 and developed many [[soft drink]] versions. A series of scandals in the 2000s, concerning vitamin C levels, sugar levels, and the amounts of actual fruit in some of the brands, damaged its reputation as a healthy product, and by 2013, the brand was widely regarded as a soft drink.<ref name=BristolPost/>

In 2013, annual worldwide sales were around £500 million. That year, GSK sold Ribena and another consumer line, [[Lucozade]], to the Japanese multinational [[Suntory]] for £1.35 billion (equivalent to £{{formatprice|{{inflation|UK|1,350,000,000|2013}}}} in {{inflation/year|UK}}).{{inflation/fn|UK}} In April 2018, in the United Kingdom, Ribena's longstanding recipe was changed by the addition of artificial sweeteners in response to the introduction of a [[sugary drinks tax]] by the UK government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2018 |title=Sugar tax revolt: Meet the Ribena stockpilers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-43843614 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113122806/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-43843614/sugar-tax-revolt-meet-the-ribena-stockpilers |archive-date=13 January 2019 |access-date=13 January 2019 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Development ===
Ribena was originally manufactured in England by the [[Bristol]]-based food and drink company HW Carter as a [[blackcurrant]] [[squash (drink)|squash]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9781441951915 |title=Production and Packaging of Non-Carbonated Fruit Juices and Fruit Beverages |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2013 |isbn=9781475762969 |editor-last=Ashurst |editor-first=Philip R. |access-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211151552/http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9781441951915 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|132–133}} Development research into pure fruit syrups for the manufacture of [[milkshake]]s had been done at the [[Long Ashton Research Station|Long Ashton Agriculture and Horticulture Research Station]] in [[North Somerset]] using a [[pectinase]] enzyme process; Ribena was developed by biochemist Audrey Green and Vernon Charley, a scientist at the [[University of Bristol]]<ref name="1936-Bristol-scientist-creates-Ribena">{{Cite news |date=27 March 2007 |title=Bristol Scientist creates Ribena |url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/centenary/timeline/index.html?detectHtml=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810212716/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/centenary/timeline/index.html?detectHtml=true |archive-date=10 August 2019 |access-date=4 September 2011 |publisher=University of Bristol |location=Bristol |quote=Dr Vernon Charley, a scientist at the University's Long Ashton Agriculture and Horticulture Research, develops Ribena. It was given its name by a Mr S. M. Lennox of Bristol in 1938 and comes from the Latin name for blackcurrant, Ribes Negrum. The now-famous blackcurrant drink provided an important alternative source of vitamin C during the war years when oranges were in scarce supply and it was produced for free distribution to children by the Ministry of Food}}</ref> in 1933.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Sep 2008 |title=Brand Profile: Ribena |url=http://www.promomarketing.info/shopper/brand-profile-ribena/2689 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429194631/http://www.promomarketing.info/shopper/brand-profile-ribena/2689 |archive-date=29 April 2014 |access-date=5 July 2011 |website=Promotional Marketing}}</ref> The blackcurrant variety was found to contain high levels of [[vitamin C]]. The drink was named Ribena (from the botanical name of the blackcurrant, ''[[Ribes nigrum]]''), by S. M. Lennox of Bristol in 1938.<ref name="1936-Bristol-scientist-creates-Ribena" />

===Second World War===
During the [[World War II|Second World War]], other fruits rich in vitamin C, like [[orange (fruit)|oranges]], became very difficult to obtain in the United Kingdom, due to [[U-boat|German submarine]] attacks on cargo ships. Blackcurrant cultivation was encouraged by the government, and the yield of the nation's crop increased significantly. [[Rose hip]]s were also collected to make syrup.

The government started the Vitamin Welfare Scheme in December 1941. This provided blackcurrant syrup and [[cod liver oil]] free of charge to children under the age of two. In April 1942, the blackcurrant syrup was replaced by orange juice which was then provided by the US [[Lend-Lease]] program.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dewey |first=Peter |title=War and Progress: Britain 1914-1945 |date=11 September 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-90014-6 |page=314 |language=en}}</ref>

===Post-war===
Production moved to the new Royal Forest Factory<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Photos of Coleford and district&nbsp;— H W Carter |url=http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Coleford/xCartersRear.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403060432/http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Coleford/xCartersRear.htm |archive-date=3 April 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |publisher=Sungreen.co.uk}}</ref> at [[Coleford, Gloucestershire|Coleford]] in the [[Forest of Dean District|Forest of Dean]] in late 1947.

Carters was bought out by the [[Beecham Group]] in 1955.<ref name=BristolPost>{{Cite news |last=<!--staff byline; no author given--> |date=17 September 2013 |title=We have Frank and Vernon to thank for Ribena |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Frank-Vernon-thank-Ribena/story-19804329-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418215501/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Frank-Vernon-thank-Ribena/story-19804329-detail/story.html |archive-date=18 April 2015 |work=[[The Bristol Post]]}}</ref>  In 1989, Beecham and [[GlaxoSmithKline|SmithKline Beckman]] merged to form SmithKline Beecham,<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 December 2000 |title=Profile: SmithKline Beecham |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/606830.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714023534/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/606830.stm |archive-date=14 July 2018 |access-date=11 November 2017 |work=BBC}}</ref> and in 2000, SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoWellcome merged to form [[GlaxoSmithKline]] (GSK).<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 2000 |title=The Glaxo SmithKline merger |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/607187.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112022750/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/607187.stm |archive-date=12 November 2017 |access-date=11 November 2017 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

Through the years GSK and its predecessors developed many [[soft drink]] versions of Ribena but it retained an image as a "healthy food" in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.<ref name=BristolPost/><ref name="BrandFail">{{Cite journal |last=Jaques |first=Tony |year=2008 |title=When an Icon Stumbles – The Ribena Issue Mismanaged |url=http://issueoutcomes.publishpath.com/Websites/issueoutcomes/Images/Ribena%20icon%20stumbles%20CCIJ.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Corporate Communications |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=394–406 |doi=10.1108/13563280810914829 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044727/http://issueoutcomes.publishpath.com/Websites/issueoutcomes/Images/Ribena%20icon%20stumbles%20CCIJ.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=18 April 2015}}.</ref>

In 2001, a formulation of the diluted Ribena cordial, sold as Ribena Toothkind (and endorsed by the [[British Dental Association]] as being less damaging to teeth than other soft drinks), was judged by the United Kingdom [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] to have been advertised in a misleading manner, and claims that the drink did not encourage tooth decay should be removed from the packaging. The opinion was upheld by a hearing in the High Court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 2001 |title=Court rules against Ribena |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1121749.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201124013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1121749.stm |archive-date=1 February 2009 |access-date=31 August 2009 |work=BBC News}}</ref>  In 2003, the [[The Food Commission|Food Commission]] in the United Kingdom criticised the sugar levels in regular Ribena as contributing to [[childhood obesity]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2004 |title=Soft drinks or liquid candy? |url=http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/liquid_candy_jan04.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303171739/http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/liquid_candy_jan04.htm |archive-date=3 March 2007 |publisher=The Food Commission |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2004, [[Jenny Suo]] and a classmate in a New Zealand secondary school conducted a science experiment to determine the vitamin C levels of their favourite fruit drinks. They discovered that the "Ready to Drink Ribena" product they tested had undetectable levels of vitamin C, contrary to the brand's reputation and advertisements which said that "the blackcurrants in Ribena contain four times the vitamin C of oranges".<ref name=BrandFail/> The television consumer affairs show ''[[Fair Go]]'' broadcast the story nationwide in October 2004.<ref name=BrandFail/> Following further testing, in March 2007, the [[Commerce Commission|New Zealand Commerce Commission]] brought 15 charges in the Auckland District Court against GlaxoSmithKline under the [[Fair Trading Act 1986|Fair Trading Act]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eames |first=David |date=24 March 2007 |title=Schoolgirls' study nabs food giant |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10430610 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929174910/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10430610 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=24 March 2007 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> In March 2007, GSK pleaded guilty and was fined NZ$217,500 ({{inflation|NZ|217500|2007|fmt=eq|cursign=NZ$}}){{inflation/fn|NZ}} by Auckland District Court for misleading consumers, and were ordered to run a series of corrective advertisements and place a statement on its website.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 2007 |title=Ribena maker fined $192,000 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/ribena-maker-fined-192000/2007/03/27/1174761427980.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030072639/http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/ribena-maker-fined-192000/2007/03/27/1174761427980.html |archive-date=30 October 2007 |access-date=27 March 2007 |work=[[The Age]]}}</ref>  GSK maintained the issue only affects Australia and New Zealand, and Ribena products sold in other markets, such as the United Kingdom, contain the levels of vitamin C stated on the product label.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vasagar |first=Jeevan |date=27 March 2007 |title=Schoolgirls rumble Ribena vitamin claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,2043450,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712223444/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/27/schoolsworldwide.foodanddrink |archive-date=12 July 2023 |access-date=22 May 2010 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:NewRibenaDesign.jpg|thumb|upright|Carton design introduced in January 2007{{FFDC|NewRibenaDesign.jpg|log=2021 March 22}}]] -->
In January 2007, a study conducted by the [[Australian Consumers' Association]] for [[Choice (Australian magazine)|''Choice'']] magazine reported that blackcurrant juice (from concentrate) only constituted 5%<!--5% is the maximum permitted content of a "fruit drink"--> of the Ribena fruit drink product.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2007 |title=Foods that make kids fatter faster |url=http://www.choice.com.au/Reviews-and-Tests/Food-and-Health/Food-and-drink/Nutrition/Foods-that-make-kids-fatter-faster/Page/The%20fat%20list.aspx |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005185826/http://www.choice.com.au/Reviews-and-Tests/Food-and-Health/Food-and-drink/Nutrition/Foods-that-make-kids-fatter-faster/Page/The%20fat%20list.aspx |archive-date=5 October 2009 |website=[[Choice (Australian magazine)|Choice]]}}</ref>

By 2013, the brand had annual worldwide sales of about £500&nbsp;million.<ref name=BristolPost/> In April 2013, GSK put Ribena, along with [[Lucozade]], up for sale to focus on its pharmaceutical business.<ref name="BristolPost" /><ref name="Neate">{{Cite news |last=Neate |first=Rupert |date=24 April 2013 |title=Lucozade and Ribena up for sale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/apr/24/lucozade-ribena-sale-glaxosmithkline-gsk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811201416/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/apr/24/lucozade-ribena-sale-glaxosmithkline-gsk |archive-date=11 August 2019 |access-date=13 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}}.</ref> The eventual sale to Japanese company [[Suntory]] for £1.35 billion was announced in September 2013.<ref name="Monaghan">{{Cite news |last=Monaghan |first=Angela |date=9 September 2013 |title=Ribena and Lucozade sold to Japanese drinks giant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/09/ribena-lucozade-sold-japan-glaxosmithkline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201235524/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/09/ribena-lucozade-sold-japan-glaxosmithkline |archive-date=1 February 2021 |access-date=13 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}}.</ref>

A sparkling version released in 2011 but discontinued in 2014. It was brought back to supermarket shelves in 2020, launching in two flavours, blackcurrant and raspberry. This was in response to growth in the flavoured carbonate market that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2020 |title=Ribena gets busy with the fizzy |url=https://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/products/ribena-gets-busy-with-the-fizzy/648600.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101025722/https://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/products/ribena-gets-busy-with-the-fizzy/648600.article |archive-date=1 November 2020 |access-date=17 November 2020 |website=Convenience Store |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, as part of a promotion with [[Hasbro]], a Ribena themed Monopoly edition was created. This set was distributed to 10,000 customers through an online competition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 July 2022 |title=Ribena Monopoly – Limited Edition |url=https://richunclepennybags.co.uk/ribena-monopoly-limited-edition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727152118/https://richunclepennybags.co.uk/ribena-monopoly-limited-edition |archive-date=27 July 2022 |access-date=2 August 2022 |work=Rich Uncle Pennybags}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Tango (drink)|Tango]] – similarly bought by Beecham in the 1950s but sold in 1986
*{{anl|Vimto}}
*{{anl|Ramune}}
*{{anl|Lucozade}}
*{{anl|Cola}}
*{{anl|J2O}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Ribena.ogg|date=5 April 2009}}
* {{official website|http://www.ribena.co.uk}}

{{Suntory}}
{{GlaxoSmithKline}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
[[Category:Suntory brands]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]
[[Category:Juice brands]]
[[Category:British brands]]
[[Category:Food and drink introduced in 1938]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1938]]
[[Category:Drugs developed by GSK plc]]