Kofola, Vinea, and Targa Florio: If You Adore Them, Don’t Stress

Kofola’s roots trace back to a pharmacist named Gustav Hell from Opava, who began creating medicines and candy as early as the late 1800s. This included Syrupus Colae compositus Hell, which had a liquid extract made from cola seeds.

However, Kofola in its current form was not founded until the 1950s. It was established in 1959 as a socialist option to replace Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which were unavailable. A team from the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants in Prague, led by Associate Professor Zdeněk Blažek, discovered a way to blend the excess caffeine from roasted coffee with herbs and fruit juices within just two years. The Galena pharmaceutical company in Opava began creating a sweet and sour syrup called Kofo, which is the foundation for Kofola today.

Kofola or coffee bean from Krnov

The recipe for the core syrup is still utilized today. It is prepared each season, which means Kofola may taste slightly different from year to year, depending on the weather and how the fruit ripens. It’s known to include juices from apples, cherries, and currants, along with licorice and raspberry extract, light and dark caramel, and essential oils from anise, cardamom, orange, and cinnamon. However, very few people know the exact details as Kofola’s recipe remains a closely guarded secret, much like the famous ingredients of Becherovka..

From the very start, Kofola’s journey to international fame was supported by catchy slogans, banners, and lively mobile advertising, featuring a logo shaped like a coffee bean, which has been in use for over thirty years. When Kofola first appeared on store shelves, it quickly became popular – so much so that Czechoslovakia soon ran out of the herbs needed for production and had to import them.

If you love her…

Over more than sixty years of Kofola’s history have provided ample experiences. The dark soda remained a favorite until the Velvet Revolution. Following that, like other local sodas, it had to compete with foreign brands for market share, changing ownership several times, before finding success once again through a revamped marketing approach and investments.

The taste has remained unchanged, evoking nostalgic memories for many older consumers, and thanks to its fresh new branding and unforgettable commercials (like the famous Christmas ad featuring the golden pig), it has also gained a youthful audience. The slogan “If you love it, there’s nothing to worry about…” delivers its strong message even today. The drink itself continues to be timeless; new flavor variations like cherry, coconut, apple, cinnamon, tangerine, and marzipan are being introduced. Kofola is made in Krnov, with the majority ownership held by the Greek Samaras family, led by the current CEO, Jannis.

Vinea, Kofola’s younger sister, and other siblings

In 1974, a drink called Vinea was created from grapes, elderberries, and a bit of creativity. Its special recipe features a significant amount of natural grape juice. This shows that great things can come from vineyards; however, the delightful flavor and aroma that make Vinea unique would not be complete without elderberries. Made from an original recipe, Vinea lemonade fully embraces the richness and beauty of nature.

Kofola’s latest offering is a premium lemonade series featuring more fruit juice from Sicilian citrus, called Targa Florio. This name refers to one of the oldest and toughest endurance races in motorsport history, known for its dangers: competitors would race on narrow roads in the Sicilian mountains without power steering or other modern comforts.

The thrilling racing legacy is also a key influence for the brand. Sicily is home to exceptional citrus, and the legendary Targa Florio race left a mark on Czech history. The first Czech to participate was Eliška Junková, who finished fifth overall in 1928, as well as first in the amateur category. The lemonades are made from the fruits grown on the family farm which has been cultivating citrus for generations. You can enjoy Targa Florio lemonade in flavors like orange, blood orange, or lemon, sweetened with cane sugar, and be transported to Sicily with every sip.

Five facts about Kofola

• • Kofola is more than just Kofola; the business’s portfolio also features mineral waters like Rajec, Ondrášovka, and Korunní, Jupik, Polish lemonades such as Hoop and Paola, an energy drink named Semtex, and Ugo fresh juices, among others. Kofola itself represents about a quarter of total sales.

• • Additional offerings include Slovenian Radenska, which experts believe holds similar market potential in the former Yugoslavia’s 20 million consumer market as Kofola did when it first emerged.

• • The company operates 11 factories in Central Europe, with operations in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and employs over 2,000 individuals, including roughly 700 in the Czech Republic.

• • Despite facing challenges from flooding and a sugar tax, the company achieved record sales in 2024, with overall sales rising by 30% compared to the previous year.

• • Kofola, which has always had a loyal fan base, has launched a successful advertising campaign titled Love has 1000 names. This highlights the various nicknames that partners use for each other. These affectionate names can be sweet, funny, or even a tad quirky, yet they capture a one-of-a-kind connection. The commercials were filmed at a campsite by the Vltava River close to Český Krumlov. Currently, they are running the campaign Love Tastes Best Live, which supports in-person dating.