Ribena was invented in Bristol. Long Ashton to be precise, at the former National Fruit & Cider Institute.
It’s a fact that I never tire of telling.
Sadly, Bristol will not be getting a share of the £1.35bn that Japanese firm Suntory have paid GlaxoSmithKline for the Lucozade and Ribena brands.
It’s a long way from 1936 when scientist Vernon Charley from Bristol University developed the new drink as an important alternative source of vitamin C during the war years.
Oranges were in scarce supply and Ribena, given its name by a Mr SM Lennox of Bristol in 1938, was produced for free distribution to children by the Ministry of Food.
1936 wasn’t during the war…?
really? Glaxo-Smithkline do something for purely selfish business reasons? that doesn’t sound right :p