# Robinsons (drink)

Robinsons is a British fruit drink brand, now owned by Britvic plc, that has been operating for over 200 years, predominantly offering fruit cordials (known as squash in British English). The Robinsons range includes Squash, Fruit Shoot, Barley Water and Fruit Creations.
Robinsons sales for 2022 (across all its ranges) totalled nearly £200 million and it was assessed that half of British households bought their products, with more than 9 million glasses of their drink consumed daily.

## History

The company was founded in 1823 by George Robinson and Alexander Belville as Robinson and Belville Ltd, originally as a shipping and trading company but also which manufactured Patent Barley and Groats. As an 11-year-old Mary Ann Robinson, began to sell homemade fruit juices from her family's farm in Droylsden, Greater Manchester. George Robinson left the business in 1859 and Mary-Ann, who later married James Nichols, continued to develop the business over the next few decades. Matthias Robinson, discovered the use of barley crystals and initially began producing barley water as a health drink. This original product quickly gained popularity and became known for its refreshing taste and purported health benefits. Throughout the years, Robinsons expanded its product line to include a wide variety of drinks, catering to different tastes and preferences. Robinsons Squash was created by Fred Robinson in the 1930s, who developed a way to make fruit squash using freshly squeezed fruit juices; its introduction to the market marked a significant milestone for the brand, as it became a household name and an iconic part of British culture.

### Historical timeline

* 1862, Robinson & Belville Ltd amalgamated with Keen & Sons to become Keen Robinson & Company.
* 1903, Keen Robinson & Company was acquired by J & J Colman, the mustard producer based in Norwich. Colman's merged with Reckitt & Sons in 1938, becoming Reckitt & Colman. In 1925 the Company moved production to Carrow near Norwich, where it produced its products until 2019.
* 1930, Mr Eric Smedley Hodgson developed a drink combining Robinsons' patent barley crystals with real lemon juice and sugar, which became Lemon Barley Water and was marketed with its association with the Wimbledon Tennis Championships from 1935 onwards.
* 1955, Robinsons was appointed with a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as supplier of soft drinks to the British Royal household.
* 1984, the company was acquired by Cadbury Schweppes but later sold to Britvic as part of a strategic restructure to focus on core confectionary and beverage brands.
* 1995, Britvic Soft Drinks Limited, a leading UK soft drinks company, was formed from the merger of Britvic and Robinsons Foods Ltd.
* 2000, Fruit Shoot launched
* 2012, Britvic recalled packs featuring the 'spill proof Magicap' design due to concerns over packaging safety.
* 2015, Robinsons removed all 'added sugars' from its squash product ranges.
* 2023, Robinsons conducted a comprehensive rebranding of its product range to appeal to modern families.
* 2024, Carlsberg agrees to acquire Britvic in a £3.3 billion take over.

## Wimbledon

Robinsons has a long-standing association with the Wimbledon tennis tournament. The partnership between Robinsons and Wimbledon dates back to 1935. Robinsons became the official supplier of soft drinks for the tournament, with their Robinsons Barley Water becoming a beloved staple at Wimbledon. The drink was originally introduced to provide hydration to players during matches. Over the years, Robinsons' presence at Wimbledon grew, with their branding prominently displayed throughout the event. After 86 years, the official sponsorship between Robinsons and Wimbledon ended in 2022. The decision was made by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which organizes the tournament, as they sought to explore new opportunities and partnerships for the event. Despite this change, Robinsons' legacy at Wimbledon remains ingrained in the tournament's history as their Barley Water continues to be associated with the traditions and heritage of this iconic tennis championship.