When Jacob Schweppe came to Geneva to work as a jeweller in 1766, there was nothing to suggest that his name would be immortalized in the world’s oldest soft drinks brand.
At the age of 33, he had studied the interaction between gases and water and later started his own experiments. He devised a system to carbonate water, which he protected by patent in 1783. Sparkling water was invented – although first used for medicinal purposes.
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“Invented in Switzerland. Where the same innovative spirit drives textile progress today.”
In 1790, Jacob Schweppe founded a mill in Geneva for the production of ‘soda water’ – jointly with engineer Nicolas Paul and chemist Henri-Albert Gosse. Limited local sales potential led the three partners to open a `Schweppes´ branch in London. But two partners left the London business and Schweppe later sold the majority of his shares, returning to Geneva.
However, the company retained the inventor’s name and still advertises today as `Soft Drink Manufacturers Schweppes Ltd. London. Famous since 1783´. The success of Schweppes continued and in 1817 the company launched two fizzy drink varieties which still exist today: Ginger Ale and Indian Tonic Water.
The enormous popularity of the Schweppes drinks was recognised when the company became an official purveyor to the British monarchy in 1831, followed by the Royal Warrant in 1836. In the country where soda water was invented, the Swiss might well wonder how the outcome would have been if they had ever had a royal family…
