Jones Soda

The story of Jones Soda Company starts in 1987 when company founder Peter van Stolk recognized the potential for "alternative" soda products. This was actually not the start of the amazing Jones Soda products we have now though. Originally the company was a distributor for other popular beverages in Canada and became established this way. Then, using the experience they had distributing popular beverages, they decided to try their own line. The first product Jones Soda made was actually a product called WAZU Natural Spring Water launched in April 1995. The first launch of the Jones Soda carbonated beverage was in January of 1996 with the original six flavors: orange, cherry, lemon-line, strawberry-lime, raspberry, and grape.

Jones Soda used a new way to distribute their soda and attack the market with it's new and interesting drinks. Jones Soda sold their drinks to tattoo parlors, music retailers, skate/snowboard/surfboard shops, and individual fashion boutiques. When they became more popular they began to place their drinks in more mainstream shops like 7-11 and Wal-Mart.

Jones Soda is possibly one of the most unique beverage companies currently playing the market right now. Jones Soda has released over 100 different soda flavors with some pretty unusual ones mixed in. Some of their more kooky creations include: Turkey and Gravy (Thanksgiving 2003), Mashed Potatoes and Butter (Thanksgiving 2004), Wild Herb Stuffing (October 2005), Brussel Sprout (October 2005), and Latke (Chanukah 2007).

That is just a very short list of flavors they have come out with and Jones Soda is well known for coming out with crazy holiday packs. For example in honor of Thanksgiving in 2004 they offered a completely drinkable Thanksgiving Dinner which had Turkey and Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry, Mashed Potatoes with Butter, and Fruitcake. Some of the more rare and limited edition Jones Soda bottles (empty or full) and holiday packs have been sold for over $100.00 on eBay and other sites. It is like collecting the original and unopened glass Coca-Cola bottles.

The thing about people is we absolutely love variety in our food and drink choices. We are also pulled in by new and innovative ideas. We will use the flavor Mashed Potatoes and Butter for example. Who the heck would pour this into a bottle, carbonate it, and sell it? If I had seen this in a store I would have bought and tried it immediately. I love Mashed Potatoes and Butter! Of course you aren't getting a bunch of stuff in a bottle with carbonation added, the drinks are all liquid and no chunks. We are also curious. Seeing a label advertising a drinkable soda dinner in a full set, no plate and fork required, would get anyone interested in the brand.

Jones Soda labels are also very unique because they have consumer submitted photos for the labels. Imagine! You and your friends drinking Jones Soda and then taking a picture of it and getting it on a Jones Soda label! They make some labels look very vintage by making the pictures black and white. Some bottles with rare labels on them are even collectible.

The company launches with its six original flavors: Lemon-lime, cherry, raspberry, orange, grape, strawberry-lime.

Holiday:

Thanksgiving:
Turkey and Gravy
Cranberry
Mashed Potatoes and Butter
Green Bean Casserole
Fruit Cake
Brussel Sprout with Prosciutto
Wild Herb Stuffing
Pumpkin Pie
Broccoli Casserole
Salmon Pâté
Corn on the Cob
Pecan Pie
Sweet Potato
Dinner Roll
Pea
Antacid
Cherry Pie
Banana Cream Pie
Key Lime Pie
Apple Pie
Blueberry Pie

Christmas
Sugar Plum
Candy Cane
Eggnog
Gingerbread Man
Christmas Cocoa
Christmas Ham
Christmas Tree
Spiced Pear
Mele Kalikimaka

Chanukah
Chocolate Coins
Applesauce
Jelly Doughnut
Latke

Valentine's Day
Love Potion #6

Halloween
Candy Corn
Strawberry S'lime
Scary Berry Lemonade
Caramel Apple
Spider Cider
Berried Alive
Gruesome Grape
Sour Lemon Drop Dead
Spooookiwi
Buried Pomegranate
Lemon Drop Dead
Creepy Cranberry
Monster Mojito
Black Cat Licorice
Dread Licorice

Sehawks Collector Pack
Perspiration
Natural Field Turf
Dirt
Sweet Victory
Sports Cream

Rare and Limited:
Jingle Lime Soda
Jingle Berry Soda
Jingle Blue Bubble Gum Soda
Jingle Cream Soda
Big Ass Canned Ham Soda
Road Kill Soda
Billy Pop
Pure Cane Ginger Ale
Club Soda
Red Line Root Beer
Strawberry and Banana Mania

Unusual:
Chocolate
Peachy Keen
FuFu Berry
Happy
Pineapple Upside Down
Invisible
Fun
Pink
Bug Juice
Bacon

Natural Jones:
Lemon Ginger
Passion
Root Beer
Peach Ginseng

Ordinary Flavors:
Root Beer
Fruit Punch
Cream Soda
Vanilla Cola
Orange & Cream
Mf Grape
Blue Bubblegum
Kiwi
Berry Lemonade
Tangerine
Watermelon
Blueberry
Blueberry Pomegranate
Crushed Melon
Green Apple
Lemon Drop
Cherry
Strawberries and Cream
Pure Cane Cola
Twisted Lime
Pure Cane Lemon Lime

Sugar Free Jones:
Sugar Free Black Cherry
Sugar Free Root Beer
Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge
Sugar Free Berries and Cream
Sugar Free Cream Soda
Sugar Free Ginger Ale
Sugar Free Pink Grapefruit
Sugar Free Green Apple
Sugar Free Cola
Slim Root Beer
Slim Lime Cola
Slim Fu Fu Berry
Slim Cream Soda
Slim Orange Soda

Flavor Notes:
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaiian for "Merry Christmas" and it was a tropical flavor.

Christmas Ham was first created for The David Letterman Show and it was originally called Big Ass Canned Ham Soda.

Invisible did not have a flavor listed, just a photograph.

Another marketing strategy that Jones uses is sponsoring amateur and pro athletes. Here is the line-up of Jones stars!

Pros:
Ryan "Darth" Bader (UFC fighter)
Lindsey Jacobellis (Snowboarder)
Jordan "Young Gun" Mein (MMA fighter)
Brianna Cope (Surfer)

Rising Stars:
Matt Konings (BMX)
Mac Smyth (Snowboarder)
Cory Beal (BMX)
Max Wharin (Snowboarder)
Diane Rudge (Snowboarder)
Erik Mortveit (Skiier)
Jeremy Gallant (BMX)