Started in 1950, Jarritos is the first national soft drink brand in Mexico. It is the leading brand in the mexican soft drink category in the U.S and a mexican cultural icon. Jarritos is available in eleven delicious fruit flavors: Tamarind, Mandarin, Fruit Punch, Jamaica, Lime, Grapefruit, Guava, Pineapple, Strawberry, Mango and Watermelon.
Jarritos History
Over 50 years ago, Don Francisco “El Güero” Hill had the vision to create a line of soft drinks made from natural fruit extracts that would reflect the flavors and popular taste of the Mexican people. He worked on the development of flavors for his soft drink product that would later be known as Jarritos. The brand name finds its origin in the Mexican tradition of drinking coffee, water and other drinks in clay pottery jugs, called “jarritos”, because it keeps beverages fresher and cooler.
The Jarritos Chronology
A Leader is Born
1950
With a unique bottle design of 400ml, when in Mexico the industry standard was 350ml, Jarritos launches its Coffee flavor in Mexico City , becoming the first national brand of Mexican soft drinks in the country.
1951
The following year, “El Güero” Hill develops a process that allows tamarind juice extract to be suitable for a soft drink, resulting in the first tamarind flavored soft drink in Mexico and enjoying of great market acceptance.
1951
Throughout the same year develops Mandarin, Lemon and Fruit Punch flavors, gaining a bigger market share.
1954
In less than five years after its conception, Jarritos is the best-selling Mexican soft drink and enjoys trade
1955
distribution in central Mexico second only to Coca-Cola.
1960
Jarritos is distributed and/or bottled in 80 percent of the states of Mexico.
True Fruit Makes the Difference
1960
As the brand keeps expanding throughout the Mexican republic, it begins acquiring new tastes and flavors according to the regional traditions for Mexican food. Grapefruit, for instance, is made from fresh grapefruits from the state of Veracruz , Jamaica uses extracts from Jamaica flowers of Guerrero and Oaxaca , Lemon is made with lemons from the region of Colima , the same with Pineapple, which is made from the fruits of the state of Tabasco . To this date, each region awaits the harvest season to provide Jarritos with the best fruit year after year.
Crossing the border
1982
With the emigration of Mexicans to the US , the demand of Mexican products in this country became imminent. Truckloads of Mexican products were crossing the borders everyday and Jarritos was almost in all these loads.
Jarritos gets its passport
1988
The Hill family from Mexico City , and the Fernandez family from Ciudad Juarez , saw this need and formed a strategic alliance to begin the exportation of Jarritos to the US.
1989
Jarritos Mandarin and Tamarind in glass bottles imported from Mexico begin selling in a few markets in the U.S.
1991
Jarritos brings other delicious flavors from Mexico; Lemon, Jamaica, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Fruit Punch and Guava.
1993
Jarritos introduces a 2 liter size in Mandarin, Tamarind, Fruit Punch and Lemon in the market to cater family needs.
The Leader Strikes Again
1997
Jarritos is available in all major Hispanic markets across the U.S. becoming the leading Mexican soft drink brand in the U.S.
2000
New Strawberry flavor introduced; Grapefruit available in 2 liter.
2001
Jarritos pioneers plastic 20 oz size for convenience stores and other points of sale.
2002
Introduction of Strawberry and Pineapple in 2 liter format; all 2 liter bottles changed to new authentic bottle shape.
2005
Two delicious new flavors are introduced in the US Hispanic market; Mango and Watermelon.
