CRATE EXPECTATIONS
Proud granddaughter launches new range for sugar-free generation
Now, more than 100 years after the firm were set up by her great- greatgrandad, Karen Knowles is hoping to put the fizz back into Bon Accord.
The Arbroath-based drinks company delivered their last bottle around 20 years ago after an improved Scottish diet led to a sharp drop in the number of homes wanting a weekly delivery of fizzy juice.
But, two decades on, Karen, 31, and business partner Nathan Burrough, 37, have relaunched the family firm who once rivalled Irn-Bru makers Barr.
And while their new range of drinks look nothing like the originals, they hope fans of the vintage brand will fall in love with the new flavours.
Karen, of Edinburgh, said: “Everywhere Nathan and I take the drinks, we are greeted by people with fond memories of the Bon Accord lorry delivering juice – usually to their granny’s home.
“Everyone remembers the flavours they loved – from pineapple to red cola to cream soda – but tastes changed over the years and the company didn’t move with the times.
“The company ha d factories across Scotland, including in Arbroath , Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen, but they were gradually closed and stopped altogether around the year 2000.
“But we have relaunched, with new juice flavours which have no refined sugar and no artificial sweeteners, and we are delighted with how well they are being received.”
Karen, who met former chef Nathan while working in the catering industry, fell in love with the idea of resurrecting the brand while pregnant with her first child.
Karen, mum to daughters Rosie, two, and Alexandra, nine months, said: “While I was pregnant, I was struck by the lack of exciting non-alcoholic drinks there are on the market.
“I didn’t want a soft drink packed full of sugar, I wanted a soft drink to savour. Because of my family background and the years I had worked in the food industry, I started looking at the possibility of bringing out a range of nonalcoholic drinks made with natural ingredients.”
Karen contacted Abertay University in Dundee and worked alongside them to develop two new juices – cloudy lemonade and sparkling rhubarb.
They have also developed a Scottish tonic water, which is lower in sugar than comparable tonic waters.
Karen ensured one of the first people to taste the new drinks was her 86- year- old gran, Muriel.
Karen said: “Bon Accord were run by several generations on my mum’s side of the family. “When I was a little girl, I remember my grandad Andrew taking me to the Bon Accord factory in Arbroath.
“I remember seeing all the original crates for the bottles and my grandad allowing me to choose whichever flavour of juice I wanted to drink – although my favourite was always Tropic. My grandad’s three brothers had always worked with him at the company and, before that, my great-grandad George and his brother worked for the firm, who were set up by my great- greatgrandfather Thomas Robb.
“Initially, the company were set up and run from Arbroath and called Robb Brothers but, after a few years, they bought a mineral water company in Aberdeen and the company were rebranded as Bon Accord.
“They were one of Scotland’s most
well-known soft drinks companies. Everyone in the family was sad when the firm closed and I know they are all pleased to see what we are doing and have all wished us lots of luck.
“Visually, as far as the branding and new logo is concerned, we wanted to make it modern, clean and fresh with a nod to the past for those who remember the original brand.
“My gran loves the new range and, when I visited her last weekend, I was pleased to see she had some bottles in her fridge.
“My grandad, Andrew Robb, died a few years ago but she told me she wished he was here to see what we were doing. She said he would be very proud.”
Karen and Nathan have been taking their new drinks to trade fairs and farmers’ markets across the country.
Their ju ice is being stocked
I love hearing the stories people tell us about getting their juice deliveries every week
everywhere from Archerf ield House in East Lothian to a deli in Dornoch in the Highlands.
And dad- of-two Nathan, who is originally from London, said they have not ruled out the r e tur n of the Bon Accord van.
He said: “I love hearing the stories people tell us about their memories of Bon Accord and the juice deliveries they used to receive every week.
“We recently had a man come up to us at the Royal Highland Show who used to be a driver on one of the Bon Accord lorries.
“He used to work for Karen’s uncle.
“For now, we are stocking our drinks in shops, bars and cafes but in the future we might look in to bringing back a Bon Accord eco van.”