#Cheerwine June 27

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Today for the 30-Day Sign Coach4aday Challenge my post is about CHEERWINE.

Different parts of the country have a fascination with various sodas unique to that region. For North Carolinians it is CHEERWINE. It is a cherry flavored soda. Their headquarters are located in Salisbury NC and a drive around town you will see signage, murals, and events all tied into the logo.

History

In 1917 Kentucky’s Maysville Syrup Company went bankrupt, L.D. Peeler bought the company and moved it to his hometown of Salisbury, NC. Peeler renamed his newly acquired asset the Carolina Beverage Corporation. He continued making the popular Mint Cola that Maysville produced.  In 1917 he also played around with cherry flavoring. That tinkering caused him to invent Cheerwine. The sugar shortage because of WW I was inspiration in finding a new flavor.

Carolina Beverage Corp. and Cheerwine Bottling Co. are still owned by L.D. Peeler’s family. When the patriarch passed away in 1931, L.D.’s son Clifford took over the company, and, today, Cliff Ritchie, Clifford Sr.’s grandson and the founder’s great-grandson, helms the soda company.

For the longest time Cheerwine was only available in North Carolina, and in the 1990’s they only expanded distribution to South Carolina. Carolina Bottling Company has partnered with Pepsi Bottling Company to make sure all the US knows about their “Born in the South. Raised in a Glass.” taste. By 2017 — the company’s 100th anniversary — people in all 50 states were able to purchase Cheerwine.