Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Canada Dry

TALES OF A WONDERFUL CANADIAN BEVERAGE

The Canada Dry story begins with pharmacist and chemist John J. McLaughlin, who opened a small plant in Toronto, Canada in 1890 to manufacture soda water, which he sold to drugstores in siphons as a mixer for fruit juices and flavored extracts.

After hundreds of painstaking experiments, McLaughlin achieved the perfect formula for his Canada Dry Pale Dry Ginger Ale in 1904. In 1919, McLaughlin began to ship the product to New York City, and two years later the first Canada Dry plant in the United States was opened on 38th Street in Manhattan.

In the early days, corner drug stores were the predominant outlets for the carbonated beverage industry. McLaughlin changed all that by developing mass bottling techniques and serving Canada Dry where people gather in masses, such as ballparks and beaches. In fact, Canada Dry pioneered many of the products and practices now considered standards throughout the beverage industry.

In 1923, P. D. Saylor and Associates purchased the entire company from the McLaughlin family and formed the public corporation, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc. Consumer demand soon outgrew the production capacity of the New York City plant, which sparked a program of national expansion. It was during this growth that the famous “down from Canada came tales of a wonderful beverage” advertising campaign was developed.

There’s no doubt that the pleasant qualities of ginger ale made it the perfect mixer to mask the taste of home brew during Prohibition. For Canada Dry, the Roaring ‘20s roared with success. Even the high price of 35 cents for a 12-ounce bottle didn’t hinder the progress of sales. The ‘30s saw the introduction of Canada Dry’s Sparkling Water, quickly followed by tonic Water, collins mix and other fruit flavors as mixers.

During the ‘50s and ‘60s, Canada Dry was the first of the major soft drink companies to introduce sugar-free drinks and put soft drink beverages in cans. Canada Dry introduced black cherry and cranberry apple seltzers in the ‘80s.

For Canada Dry, the ‘80s was also a time of several ownership changes. In 1986, Canada Dry found a home when it was acquired by Cadbury Schweppes of London. Today, Canada Dry is part of Plano, Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., an integrated refreshment beverage business marketing more than 50 beverage brands throughout North America.

In 2004, Canada Dry celebrated its 100th anniversary with a “Win 100 oz of Gold” promotion and commemorative packaging.

The brand’s portfolio also contains citrus soda, tonic water, sparkling water and other flavored beverages such as bitter lemon, pineapple and wild cherry.

What’s in a name?
When ginger ale was first introduced, it was dark in color and considered by many to be too sweet. John J. McLaughlin wanted to create a ginger ale that was reminiscent of the “dry” and clear sparkling champagnes of France.