Cherry Cream soda is a classic American soda flavor that has been around for over a century. With its sweet cherry taste and creamy texture, it’s a nostalgic drink for many. But behind this iconic soda are some lesser known details about who actually makes Cherry Cream soda.
The Origins of Cherry Cream Soda
Cherry Cream soda first emerged in the late 19th century, around 1885-1890. Back then, sodas were sold at soda fountains in pharmacies and other stores. The pharmacists or store owners would mix syrups with carbonated water to make the sodas. Many different soda flavors existed, with fruit flavors like cherry being popular. Adding cream gave the sodas a richer, smoother taste.
So while it’s unclear exactly who first made Cherry Cream soda, it arose during this time period of soda experimentation. Once the flavor caught on, many different soda brands started producing their own versions of Cherry Cream soda.
Major Cherry Cream Soda Brands Today
Nowadays, Cherry Cream soda is made by a number of large soda manufacturers:
- Coca-Cola – Their Cherry Cream version is sold under brands like Barq’s and Mello Yello in certain regions.
- Pepsi – They produce Cherry Cream soda under their Stewart’s brand.
- Dr Pepper Snapple Group – This company makes Cherry Cream sodas for brands like 7Up, Sunkist, and A&W.
- Jones Soda Co. – A craft soda maker that offers a premium Cherry Cream soda.
So most of the major Cherry Cream sodas today are made by the big players in the soda industry. Coca-Cola and Pepsi dominate with their offerings.
Other Smaller Cherry Cream Soda Producers
In addition to the major brands, there are some smaller soda companies that bottle their own versions of Cherry Cream sodas:
- Excel Bottling Company – A family-owned bottler in Breese, Illinois making Excel brand Cherry Cream sodas since 1936.
- Cool Mountain Beverages – A soda maker in Colorado producing Cherry Cream sodas for regional distribution.
- Rocketfizz – A chain of candy stores that makes its own line of specialty sodas including Cherry Cream.
- Sir Drinks-A-Lot – A small-batch soda creator in California that crafts Cherry Cream soda using natural ingredients.
So alongside the prominent national brands, some lesser known regional bottlers and craft soda makers help fill out the landscape of Cherry Cream soda producers.
Where in the U.S. is Cherry Cream Soda Most Popular?
While enjoyed throughout America, Cherry Cream soda seems to have greater popularity in certain parts of the country based on regional soda brands and local tastes:
Midwestern States
The Midwest has a number of soda bottlers like Excel Bottling (Illinois) and Upstate Craft Soda (Wisconsin) that distribute heavily in the region. Plus Midwesterners seem to favor cream soda flavors.
Pacific Northwest
Brands like Jones Soda and Cool Mountain Beverages speak to the Pacific Northwest’s love of craft sodas. The cherry flavor resonates here as an abundance of cherries grow in the region.
New England
New England has a number of its own Cherry Cream brands like Capt’n Eli’s and Trukker Urge. The region also has a taste for classic soda fountain flavors.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is big on Cherry Cream soda, with regional brands like Stewart’s, Turkey Hill, and Hank’s. It’s frequently spotted on soda fountains here.
So while enjoyed coast to coast, Cherry Cream soda appears most prevalent in the Midwest, Northwest, New England, and parts of Pennsylvania based on local brands and tastes.
Cherry Cream Soda Sales Trends
To analyze Cherry Cream soda’s popularity, let’s look at some sales trends and figures:
Sales Over Past Decade
According to market research by Statista, sales of cherry flavored carbonated soft drinks have declined over the past decade. From 2009 to 2019, sales by volume dropped from 234.6 million cases to 215.4 million cases. However, cherry remains one of the most popular flavors.
Current Sales Volume
In 2019, cherry flavored sodas accounted for 9.1% of all carbonated soft drink sales by volume. The top selling flavors were cola, lemon-lime, and ginger ale.
Future Growth Projections
Despite declining sales over the past decade, cherry flavored sodas are projected to grow 1.4% annually from 2019-2024 according to Statista forecasts. This suggests Cherry Cream soda sales could rebound slightly.
| Year | Sales Volume (millions of cases) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 215.4 |
| 2024 (projected) | 224.7 |
So while Americans may be drinking less soda overall, Cherry Cream soda remains popular and is expected to follow general stability/slight growth trends moving forward.
Key Takeaways on Sales Trends
– Cherry Cream soda sales have declined over the past decade but remain substantial.
– Cherry is still one of the most popular soda flavors at around 9% market share.
– Modest growth is expected in Cherry Cream soda sales, forecast to rebound 1-2% over the next five years.
Cherry Cream Soda Brand Comparison
Let’s directly compare some of the major Cherry Cream soda brands on key attributes:
| Stewart’s | Jones | A&W | Upstate Craft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Company | Pepsi | Jones Soda | Dr Pepper Snapple | Upstate Craft Soda |
| Type | Mass-market | Premium craft | Mass-market | Small-batch craft |
| Where Sold | Nationwide | Select regions | Nationwide | Wisconsin/Midwest |
| Price Point | Low | High | Low | Medium |
| Cherry Taste | Mild | Natural | Bold | Tart |
This comparison shows the diversity of Cherry Cream sodas on the market ranging from major national brands to small craft versions. The craft sodas highlight more natural, premium cherry flavors.
Key Differentiators
– Parent company: Independent craft vs big soda conglomerate
– Type: Mass-market vs premium craft production
– Where sold: Nationwide vs regional distribution
– Price point: Low vs medium/high price
– Cherry taste: Mild vs bold, natural, tart
In terms of cherry taste profile, the craft sodas like Jones and Upstate tend to have more distinct, real cherry flavors compared to the mass-market versions.
Production Methods
Now let’s take a look at how Cherry Cream sodas are made:
Ingredients
To achieve the signature cherry cream taste, the main ingredients are:
– Carbonated water – Gives the fizzy effervescence.
– High fructose corn syrup or sugar – Sweetens the soda.
– Natural and artificial cherry flavoring – Provides the cherry taste.
– Cream flavoring – Gives the creamy sensation; often contains vanilla.
– Caramel color – Used for reddish color.
– Citric acid – Adds tartness to balance sweetness.
– Preservatives like sodium benzoate – Help extend shelf life.
The ingredients can vary slightly depending on the brand, particularly when it comes to use of natural vs artificial flavorings and organic ingredients.
Syrup Production
Major soda companies produce concentrated syrups that get mixed with carbonated water at bottling plants. The syrups contain cherry and cream flavorings, sweeteners, preservatives, and caramel color.
Bottle Manufacturing
PET plastic has become the standard material for soda bottles. The bottles are produced through an extrusion blow molding process.
Bottling Process
At bottling facilities, the soda syrup gets diluted with filtered water and infused with CO2 for carbonation. It’s then filled into bottles which get capped, labeled, coded, and packed for shipping.
Craft Soda Production
Smaller craft soda makers produce their sodas in smaller batches. They typically use more natural flavorings and cane sugar. The sodas may be bottle fermented to carbonate them naturally.
So large-scale bottlers and craft producers follow a similar basic process but differ on aspects like ingredients sourcing and carbonation methods. The large soda companies are able to produce Cherry Cream sodas very efficiently at massive volumes.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, here is what we may see next for Cherry Cream sodas:
More Specialty Flavors
Brands could develop new spins on Cherry Cream like black cherry or wild cherry varieties made with tangy cherries. Limited edition seasonal flavors may emerge too.
Craft Soda Growth
More artisanal small-batch Cherry Cream sodas made with natural ingredients and bolder cherry taste could thrive as the craft soda segment expands.
Nostalgic Appeal
Cherry Cream soda’s retro vibe and history may be increasingly leveraged through vintage-style packaging and marketing to tap into consumer nostalgia.
International Expansion
Major soda brands may seek to grow Cherry Cream overseas in markets like Asia and Latin America where the flavor isn’t as common yet.
Sugar Substitutes
We may see diet Cherry Cream sodas made with non-nutritive sweeteners like stevia to cater to health-conscious consumers.
The nostalgic appeal of Cherry Cream soda along with innovative flavors, craft/artisanal positioning, and international growth could be key directions going forward. The classic soda still has its dedicated fanbase after more than a century.
Conclusion
Cherry Cream soda has become a beloved American soda flavor over the past 130+ years. It emerged around the advent of soda fountains in the late 1800s and caught on due to its sweet cherry and creamy taste profile. While demand has softened over the past decade, Cherry Cream remains popular especially in the Midwest, Northwest, New England, and parts of Pennsylvania. Major brands like Stewart’s, Jones, A&W, and Excel dominate production along with smaller craft soda companies. The signature taste comes from a blend of cherry and cream flavorings, corn syrup or sugar for sweetness, and carbonated water. Looking ahead, specialty flavors, craft sodas, nostalgic branding, and international expansion may help bolster Cherry Cream soda’s prospects. Though a classic, Cherry Cream soda still has opportunities to innovate and refresh its image for future generations seeking out this timeless flavored fizzy drink.