This film is part of Free

There is going to be a Great Demand for - "Corona" Fruit Drinks

Watch out for the Corona man! The sunny weather will bring him right to your doorstep where, conveniently, you can buy 4 bottles for a shilling.

Advert 1938 1 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales

Overview

Once the sun comes out, this cinema advertisement declares, everyone will be wanting Corona fruit drinks which the local Corona man will supply - 4 bottles for a shilling. The Corona men were part of a very successful initiative by Porth grocers, Mr Thomas and Mr Evans, to sell their soft drinks door-to-door, few pubs being willing to stock their temperance alternative to alcohol. The pair introduced flavours to the ‘pop', to extend its appeal to children, and appeal it did.

The first Corona factory was located in Porth and was known as the ‘Welsh Hills Mineral Water Factory'. Since 2000, the building has housed a recording studio known, appropriately enough, as ‘The Pop Factory'. Corona was sold in 1958 to The Beecham Group, which kept the company brand and production continued in south Wales until in 1987 the company was bought by Britvic Soft Drinks and the Welsh Hills plant was closed, production being transferred to Bolton, Lancashire. The Corona brand was withdrawn in the late 1990s.