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Solo (Australian soft drink)

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For the Norwegian soft drink by the same name, see Solo (Norwegian soft drink).
Solo
TypeSoft drink
ManufacturerAsahi Breweries
Country of origin Australia
Introduced1973; 51 years ago (1973)
ColourWhite
FlavourLemon
VariantsSolo Original
Solo Sub
Solo Strong
Solo Lemon & Lime
Solo Low Carb
Solo Guarana
Solo Brew
Solo Zero Sugar
Solo Lemon Mango Zero Sugar
Hard Rated
Solo Lemon Pineapple Zero Sugar
Solo
Nutritional value per 1 can (375 mL)
Energy750 kJ (180 kcal)
43.1 g
Sugars43.1 g
0 g
0.2 g
Vitamins and minerals
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Sodium
3%
68 mg
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

Solo is an Australian, lemon-flavoured, carbonated soft drink currently manufactured under license by Asahi Breweries. First launched by Tarax in 1968 and fell to Cadbury after a takeover in 1974, its lemon flavour is inspired by Australian pubs' traditional and popular non alcoholic 'pub squash' beverage.[3][4] The drink's recognition amongst the Australian population has been attributed to the brand's long lasting "Solo Man" marketing campaign, featuring numerous Australian actors.[5] Solo and Asahi Holdings operates in the soft drink manufacturing industry along with various other brands such as Coca-Cola. The usual 375mL can of Solo contains 43.1 grams of sugar. There are and have been in the past, various versions of Solo available. These include Solo Zero, which uses artificial sweetener instead of sugar and there has also been a lemon and lime flavoured variant of the original recipe.

History

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Solo was first launched by Tarax in 1968, then Cadbury-Schweppes took over in 1973. In April 2009, Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd acquired Cadbury-Schweppes Australia and in turn Solo.[6][7] Asahi is a foreign owned, private company which is owned by Asahi Group Holdings Limited, a Japanese brewery and soft drink company.[7]

The drink's lemon flavour is derived from Australian pubs’ traditional non alcoholic beverage ‘pub squash’ or ‘lemon squash’, which is a drink made from a sweetened lemon concentrate and water.[8] Solo is a carbonated variant of a lemon squash.

In the past, Solo has come out with different variants of its original lemon flavour, namely a lemon lime flavour and zero sugar, which uses artificial sweetener as a substitute for sugar.[9][10]

In response to concerns associated with high sugar content, Asahi beverages and subsequently Solo signed a sugar reduction pledge in 2018. Solo aims to reduce its sugar content by 20% by the year 2025.[11][12]

Marketing

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Solo Man

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Solo Man is the long lasting marketing campaign which began in the 1970s after the release of the drink. The most recent Solo Man advertisement was released in 2018. With a history of almost 50 years, the Solo Man marketing campaign tracks an Australian man partaking in adventurous and extreme sports in order to ‘earn’ the drink.[5] Solo Man has been portrayed as a very ‘macho’, traditionally masculine man. The 2018 “thirst worthy effort” campaign launched by TBWA\Melbourne redefines the Solo Man by partaking in more domestic activities.[13]

Activities in which the Solo Man would partake in with their relevant YouTube videos are listed:

  • Kayaking down rapids[14]
  • Riding a wagon towed by horses[15]
  • Riding a catamaran[16]
  • Driving a yellow speed boat[17]
  • Wrestling a brumby[18]
  • Playing squash[19]
  • Horse riding[20]
  • Fishing for a shark[21]
  • Windsurfing[22]
  • Arm wrestling[23]
  • Doing a triathlon[24]
  • Safety rafting down rapids[25]
  • Kayaking off a cliff[26]
  • Wrestling a saltwater crocodile[27]
  • Driving a jeep through a store[28]
  • Fixing a jetty as a carpenter and wakeboarding on an esky lid[29]
  • Dragging a shark home[30]
  • Chasing a barrel of lemons[31]

Ad slogans including "The thirst crusher" and "Light on the fizz, so you can slam it down fast" were used in advertising until the early 1990s.[26] A tag line common in the television advertisements in the 1970s and 1980s was: "You've never tasted a lemon drink like Solo before. Unless it's one of those great lemon squashes that pubs used to make. Extra lemon tang, and not too many bubbles. Solo lemon: a man's drink.".[5]

In 2012, the Solo Man was re-introduced by BMF advertising agency as part of a new Solo advertising campaign, and starred Adam Demos. This is the origin story of the Solo Man who is swinging an axe in colonial Australia, puts lemons in a barrel that rolls away and gives chase down hills, later chugging the entire barrel himself in the Solo Man stance.[32][33][34][5] In this year, BMF advertising agency also created a new tagline for Solo: “Go hard, go solo”. This involved Solo Man partaking in an obstacle course to earn the drink. In this year, BMF also introduced limited edition designs on solo cans as a social media promotion strategy. It involved the cans’ design having one letter or a hashtag out of the 7 potentials: #, G, O, H, A, R, D.[35]

In 2018, Solo changed the original character traits of Solo Man by portraying him with a less macho presentation.[13] In these commercials he is a dad who makes costumes for a play, has a dog and puts together flat pack furniture. It came with the tag line "A Thirst Worthy Effort".[5][13]

Solo Man actors

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The first "Solo Man" character was acted by Michael Ace, a former PE Teacher at St Paul's Catholic college in Manly, on Sydney's Northern beaches. Ace had a second career as a model and starred as Solo Man in the 70s and 80s.[36]

Another Solo Man was Terry Creasey, the father of Australian actor and television presenter Joel Creasey. Terry Creasey was also a male model and starred as Solo Man in the 1980s. Terry Creasey featured as the Solo Man who runs up a hill with a dog and drinks a can of Solo at the top.[37]

In the mid 1980s, Mark Robert Coutelas also acted as Solo Man, donning a moustache and a mullet, featuring in the ad where Solo Man kayaks of a cliff face and white water rafting down rapids.[38]

In 2012, Australian actor Adam Demos, born in Wollongong, NSW, Australia, featured as Solo Man. Adam Demos' Solo Man was the one who chased a barrel full of lemons down a hill and drank/poured the lemon juice over him on the top of a cliff. Adam Demos has also starred in the TV series “Sex/Life”, the movie “Falling inn love”, and TV series “Rescue Special Ops”.[39]

Sport sponsorship

[edit]

In 2009, Schweppes Australia commenced a three-year partnership deal with Football Australia, whereby the 'Goal of the Year' was known as 'SOLO Goal of the year.[40][41] BMF advertising featured Australian football player Harry Kewell. This campaign was an attempt to bring 'crushed can football' back to Australian streets. This game involves crushing a Solo can after finishing the drink and kicking it around on the street.[42]

In 2011, prior to the Football world cup in South Africa, Solo and BMF launched an online campaign called 'lucky undies' in support of the Australian Socceroos. This campaign involved the production of 225,000 garments of yellow underwear to be sold online or with the drink. Paired with a 1-minute advertisement on TV, the rest of the marketing was left to social media. The result of this was a subsequent 31,000 fan film views on social media.[43] On May 24, 2010, Spectators of a Socceroos match held in Melbourne were handed these bright yellow underwear to wear over their clothes.[44]

Masculinity in marketing

[edit]

Positioned as a highly masculine drink, Solo adopts masculine marketing techniques and targets a male audience in their brand image, advertising campaigns and television commercials.[45] This marketing strategy incorporates techniques such as portraying men through "bravery, adventurousness, being able to think rationally, being strong and effective".[46]

Historically, Solo's advertising techniques have been focused on the traditional and stereotypical aspects of masculinity in their marketing campaigns. The macho nature of the Solo Man is evident in the character partaking in extreme sports in order to ‘earn’ the drink. The portrayal of Solo Man follows common techniques used in gender advertisements. These techniques include men being alert and conscious of surroundings, standing upright, gripping things tightly with their hands, eyes open and looking around, controlled bodies, being serious and being physically active.[47] Since being launched, Solo has progressed this masculine advertising through different extreme sporting adventures.[5]

Solo's marketing campaign predominantly focuses on the male demographic in Australia. The reasoning for this can be attributed to the fact that in Australia in the 2017–2018 period, men were two times more likely to have a soft drink per day compared to women.[48]

Since 2018, Solo's “thirst worthy effort” campaign produced by TBWA advertising agency reconsiders the initial idea of what it meant to be a Solo Man. Breaking from tradition, the advertising adapts to society's changing cultural perception of gender norms and redefines the Solo Man to partake in more domestic and household activities, such as constructing furniture and making costumes for a school play.[13]

Competitors

[edit]

In Australia, Solo competes with various other soft drinks that offer different flavours and prices. In 2020, Asahi Holdings (which owns Solo) held 15.4% market share in the Australian soft drink manufacturing market. Coca-Cola Amatil Limited owned the majority of the market at 39.8% market share.[11] Solo mainly competes with brands owned by Coca-Cola Amatil Limited, namely Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Kirks. Smaller brands also compete with Solo such as soft drinks owned by Tru Blu Beverages (namely Pub Squash, Pips and Vida), which have 4–5% market share, and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Pty Ltd, who have 3–4% market share.[11]

Hard Solo (Hard Rated)

[edit]

An alcoholic variant of the drink called Hard Solo was launched in July 2023, containing an ABV of 4.5% or approximately 1.3 standard drinks per 375ml can.[49] After complaints that the branding of the drink appealed to minors, the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code reviewed the case and concluded in November that Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) had breached part of the code. Asahi Breweries, owners of CUB Premium Beverages, argued that Hard Solo cans were distinct enough from the regular variety that consumers would find it hard to confuse the two, with the Hard version sporting primarily black packaging and prominent alcoholic markings.[50] Ultimately in November 2023, CUB announced it would rename the drink to Hard Rated.[51]

Overseas markets

[edit]

Cadbury Schweppes sold a similar citrus drink named Rondo in the United States market during the late 1970s and '80s.[52]

Using the Australian Solo as an inspiration, Cadbury-Schweppes has also sold an energy drink in the U.S. called Coolah Energy.[53] Similar to Solo, its listed ingredients included lemon flavour but with 150 mg of caffeine.[54] It used the tagline "Energy from Down Under" and listed boronia as an ingredient, a citrus plant in Australia known more worldwide for use in floral arrangements than its fruit or energy. Coolah Energy has since been discontinued.[55]

Ingredients

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Listed ingredients

[edit]
  • Carbonated water
  • Sugar
  • Reconstituted lemon juice (5%)
  • Food acids (330, 331)
  • Natural flavour
  • Preservative (211)
  • Natural colour (safflower extract)

Additives

[edit]
  • E330 - Citric acid
  • E331 - Sodium citrates
  • E211 - Sodium benzoate

A typical 375 mL can of Solo contains 43.1 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fat, 0.2 grams of protein and 68 milligrams of sodium, containing 750 kJ of energy.[56]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). "Chapter 4: Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy". In Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). pp. 120–121. doi:10.17226/25353. ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  3. ^ Bruce, Bill (25 November 2008). "Schweppes launches Solo Strong in Australia". foodbev media. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Soft drink company's conduct fair - judge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 Aug 1978.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "The SOLO Man". WTFWAD?. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  6. ^ Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer (2009-05-11). "Asahi Breweries Ltd - proposed acquisition of Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd's Australian beverage business". Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  7. ^ a b IBISworld. (December, 2020). Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd. Retrieved from IBISworld.
  8. ^ "lemon squash." Collinsdictionary.com. 2021. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lemon-squash
  9. ^ Geelong, Orange Digital Media on behalf of Rods Bakery. "View Schweppes Solo Lemon Lime 375mL Cans 24 pack - Rods Bakery Geelong". drygoods.horsencart.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  10. ^ "Solo Zero Sugar 10x375mL | Woolworths". www.woolworths.com.au. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  11. ^ a b c Yeoh, Y. (December 2020). Soft Drink Manufacturing in Australia. Australian Industry Report C1211A.
  12. ^ "Sugar Reduction Pledge: Signatories". Australian Beverages. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  13. ^ a b c d "Solo shows how modern men get their thirst in new 'Solo Men' campaign via TBWAMelbourne". Campaign Brief. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  14. ^ SOLO Man 1970s Kayak Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-01-06. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ SOLO Man 1970s Horse & Cart Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-01-11. Archived from the original on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ SOLO Man 1970s Catamaran Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ SOLO Man 1970s Speedboat Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-01-11. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher (2012-01-11). SOLO Man 1970s Horse Wrangling Commercial.mov. Retrieved 2024-10-24 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ SOLO Man 1970s Squash Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-01-11. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ SOLO MAN ads Noel Trompp. Lauren Trompp. 2013-04-04. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher (2012-03-22). SOLO Man 1980s Shark Fishing Commercial. Retrieved 2024-10-24 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ SOLO Man 1980s Windsurfing Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ SOLO Man 1980s Arm Wrestle Commercial.mov. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ Solo (Australian ad) 1984. retrooldcommercials. 2010-06-04. Archived from the original on 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ Solo Man ad, Australia 1986. CheeseCafe. 2008-12-25. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ a b Solo Man ad, Australia 1990. CheeseCafe. 2008-12-25. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ CheeseCafe. (2008, Dec 26). Solo Man ad, Australia 1990. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=PV3Rma_9J3w&feature=emb_title
  28. ^ Solo "Tame the Terrain" Australian TV ad (1998). CheesyTV. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ Solo The Original Thirst Crusher. (2012, Jan 12) SOLO Man 2000s Esky Wakeboarding Commercial.mov. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Qm81oLOCc&t=32s
  30. ^ Solo Lemon Drink - Bad Australian Advert. BADAUSSIETELLY. 2008-01-08. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ SOLO presents: The Original Thirst Crusher. SOLO The Original Thirst Crusher. 2012-01-27. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "Our Clients - Schweppes Australia". BMF. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  33. ^ "Schweppes brings back Solo Man". Mumbrella. 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  34. ^ Saw, Amelia (2018-02-23). "How a bogan from the Gong cracked Hollywood". dailytelegraph. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  35. ^ "BMF Melbourne Channels The Spirit Of Tough Mudder In SOLO Spot | LBBOnline". www.lbbonline.com. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  36. ^ Lowe, Ali (November 8, 2017). "'Solo Man' Michael Ace farewelled".
  37. ^ Stephenson, Alison (April 19, 2016). "The 'Solo Man' has a very famous son".
  38. ^ Kraus, Bertram S. (January 1953). "Morphology of Solo Man . Franz Weidenreich". American Anthropologist. 55 (1): 116–118. doi:10.1525/aa.1953.55.1.02a00210. ISSN 0002-7294.
  39. ^ "Adam Demos". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  40. ^ "It's 'Game on' for Solo and BMF". Campaign Brief. 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  41. ^ "Football Federation Australia Announce Major Schweppes Sponsorship | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  42. ^ Burrowes, Tim (2009-08-06). "Socceroo Harry Kewell fronts new Solo ad". Mumbrella. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  43. ^ Clapham, Shanelle Newton (2012-04-12). "Digital Strategy: Social Media Case Study - Solo Lucky Yellow Undies". Parachute Digital Marketing. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  44. ^ "Lucky Undies - AdNews". www.adnews.com.au. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  45. ^ "Solo: "Drink For A Man Kind" TV Commercial by The Furnace | Creative Advertising & Commercials Archive. Awarded Ads database". Coloribus.com. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  46. ^ "How do Media Images of Men Affect Our Lives? | Center for Media Literacy | Empowerment through Education | CML MediaLit Kit ™ |". www.medialit.org. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  47. ^ Jhally, Sut. The Codes of Gender. Media Education Foundation. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  48. ^ "National Health Survey: First results, 2017-18 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  49. ^ McDonald, Elizabeth (2023-07-28). "Solo introduces Hard Solo, a boozy twist on the classic lemon soft drink". Delicious. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  50. ^ "Hard Solo: Why are people concerned about a new alcoholic soft drink?". SBS News. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  51. ^ Yun, Jessica (2023-11-15). "Hard Solo changes name to Hard Rated after alcohol code breach". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  52. ^ "Australian drinks,Cottee's Cordial,Bundaberg,Bickford,Ginger Beer,Nescafe',cottees cordial". September 15, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-09-15.
  53. ^ "Swenson Funnies Online | Coolah Energy Drink review". Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  54. ^ "Caffeine in Coolah Energy Drink". www.caffeineinformer.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  55. ^ "Coolah Energy - Energy from Down Under".
  56. ^ "Solo Original Lemon - 375 mL". world.openfoodfacts.org. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
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