Polar Beverages is a soft drink company based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a manufacturer and distributor of sparkling fruit beverages, seltzer, ginger ale, drink mixers, and spring water to customers in the United States. It is the largest independent soft-drink bottler in the United States.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverages |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Headquarters | Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Key people | Ralph Crowley Jr. Christopher Crowley James (Jeff) Crowley David Crowley |
| Products | Polar Seltzers, Sodas and Mixers |
| Brands | Adirondack Beverages Polar Seltzer Cape Cod Dry |
| Website | polarbeverages |
It markets beverages under its flagship brand, Polar Beverages, and under the brands Adirondack Beverages, Polar Seltzer, and Cape Cod Dry. In addition to its own drinks, Polar bottles and distributes national brands for companies such as Keurig Dr Pepper. The company has two bottling plants and six distribution facilities; it also offers corporate water services and beverage vending equipment.[2]
It is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that traces its roots to 1882,[3] and is run by Ralph Crowley Jr.,[4] the great-grandson of founder Dennis M. Crowley.
History
editPolar was founded by Ralph’s great-grandfather, Dennis Mark "Boss" Crowley.[5] The business began in the 1880s as the J. G. Bieberbach Company, a liquor company. In 1916, the company took on the Polar name. The company stopped selling whiskey during Prohibition and began selling carbonated beverages like waters, ginger ales and drys.[4] The company is a member of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Products and Flavors
editPolar Beverages produces drinks flavored with natural fruit flavors. An in-house drink mixologist creates five limited edition varieties at two separate times of year to incorporate new flavors.[6]
- Cranberry Clementine
- Pineapple Pomelo
- Toasted Coconut
- Cranberry Lime
- Ruby Red Grapefruit
- Georgia Peach
- Mandarin
- Triple Berry
- Vanilla
- Raspberry Lime
- Orange Vanilla
- Strawberry Watermelon
- Blueberry Lemonade
- Pink Apple & Lemon
- Ginger Lime Mule
- Black Cherry
- Lemon
- Lime
- Pomegranate
- Blackberry Mango
Seltzer JR
edit- Werewolf Howls
- Unicorn Kisses
- Yeti Mischief
- Mermaid Songs
- Pixie Lights
- Dragon Whispers
Expedition: Flavor
edit- Clementine Bramble
- Nectarine Lemon
- Cranberry Raspberry
- Apple Pom Bomb
- Island Blueberry
- Blood Orange Punch
Limited Edition
editAn asterisk (*) denotes a returning flavor.
- Winter 2024: Nectarine Grapefruit, Spiced Pear, Blood Orange Cranberry*, Frosted Boysenberry
- Summer 2024: Papaya Breeze, Seaside Watermelon Punch*, Raspberry Limoncello*, Peach Iced Tea, Strawberry Créme
- Winter 2023: Black Cherry Vanilla*, Pomegranate Champagne*, Blood Orange Cranberry, Frosted Boysenberry, Yuzu Orange Blossom
- Summer 2023: Raspberry Limoncello, Pineapple Guava, Seaside Watermelon Punch, Passionfruit Blueberry*, Dragon Fruit Lemonade*
- Winter 2022: Black Cherry Vanilla, Pomegranate Champagne, Key Lime Grapefruit, Cranberry Bramble*, Prickly Pear & Citrus*
- Summer 2022: Dragon Fruit Lemonade, Guava Mule, Passionfruit Blueberry, Pink Summer Iced Tea*, Strawberry Margarita*
- Winter 2021: Prickly Pear & Citrus, Cranberry Bramble, Upside Down Plum, Pomegranate Apple*, Concord Clementine*
- Summer 2021: Watermelon Mojito, Tropical Cherry, Pink Summer Iced Tea, Blackberry Mango Punch*, Strawberry Margarita*
- Winter 2020: Pomegranate Apple, Concord Clementine, Grapefruit Melon Kiss, Ginger Peach*, Blackberry Citron*
- Summer 2020: Strawberry Margarita, Blackberry Mango Punch, Kiwi Pink Grapefruit, Perfectly Plum Summer, Raspberry Rosé*
- Winter 2019: Berry Sweet Grapefruit, Ginger Peach, Pink Lady Apple & Lemon, Blackberry Clementine*, Blood Orange Sangria*
- Summer 2019: Nectarine Lemon, Strawberry Honeydew, Mango Cherry Bliss, Raspberry Rosé*, Blueberry Tangerine*
- Winter 2018: Hibiscus Cloudberry, Blackberry Clementine, Vanilla Zen, Cranberry Cider*, Ginger Lime Mule*
- Summer 2018: Pineapple Lemon Twist, Mango Cherry Bliss, Blueberry Tangerine, Raspberry Rosé*, Cucumber Melon*
- Winter 2017: Blood Orange Sangria, Ginger Lime Mule, Blackberry Citron, Cranberry Cider*, Winter Citrus & Berry*
- Summer 2017: Pineapple Grapefruit, Raspberry Rosé, Strawberry Sunrise, Mango Berry*, and Watermelon Margarita*
- Winter 2016: Cranberry Cider, Pink Peach Bellini, Late Harvest Berries, Winter Citrus & Berry*, Tart Cherry & Lime*
- Summer 2016: Tangerine Limeade, Watermelon Margarita, Raspberry Pink Lemonade, Mango Berry, Pomegranate Sangria*
- Winter 2015: Tart Cherry & Lime, Winter Citrus & Berry, Blackberry Apple, Champagne Strawberry*, Cranberry & Clementine*
- Summer 2015: Tropical Mai Tai, Strawberry Watermelon, Guava Mandarin, Blueberry Lemonade*, Pomegranate Sangria*
- Winter 2014: Champagne Strawberry, Cranberry Clementine, Ginger Apple, Blackberry Bergamot, Toasted Coconut Créme
- Summer 2014: Raspberry Mojito, Blueberry Lemonade, Cucumber Melon, Pomegranate Sangria, Mango Papaya
Seltzer'ade
edit- Coconut Limeade
- Pineapple Lemonade
- Blood Orange Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Starfruit Lemonade
- Raspberry Pink Lemonade
- Mango Limeade
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Blueberry Lemonade
- Tart Cherry Limeade
Mixers
edit- Tonic Water
- Diet Tonic Water
- Tonic Water With Lime
- Diet Tonic Water With Lime
- Club Soda
- Club Soda With Lemon
- Club Soda With Lime
- Vichy Water
- Ginger Ale
- Diet Ginger Ale
- Golden Ginger Ale
- Ginger Ale With Green Tea
- Half & Half
- Diet Half & Half
- Bitter Lemon
- Sour Lemon
- Tom Collins
Polar FROST
edit- Arctic Twist
- Black Raspberry
- Kiwi Strawberry
- Lemon Lime
- Lemonade
- Nordic Berry
- Orange Mango
- Pink Grapefruit
- Pomegranate Berry
Polar Sparkling Dry
edit- Pink Grapefruit Dry
- Diet Pink Grapefruit Dry
- Orange Dry
- Diet Orange Dry
Polar Sparkling Soda
edit- Birch Beer
- Diet Birch Beer
- Diet Double Fudge
- Cream Soda
- Diet Cream Soda
- Root Beer
- Diet Root Beer
- Black Cherry
- Diet Black Cherry
- Diet Grape
- Raspberry Lime
- Diet Raspberry Lime
Polar Classic Cane Sugar Soda
edit- Orange Cream
- Black Cherry
- Root Beer
- Vanilla Cream
Polar Spring Water
editPartnership with Keurig
editIn July 2020, Polar partnered with Keurig Dr Pepper to expand their market nationwide. Under the partnership, the Crowley family retains company ownership with direct access to Keurig's delivery and marketing network.[8]
Mascot
edit
A polar bear named Orson has been the company's mascot since 1902.[9] Next to the company's billboard near I-290 in Worcester, a large inflatable version of Orson can be seen smiling and "waving" to passersby. The oversized bear is tied down by wire, to keep the bear in place during rough weather, and to prevent theft. Orson has sometimes been stolen by local fraternities as a prank.[10]
Sponsorships
editPolar Beverage's Seltzer line is an official drink of US Sailing under a 3 year marketing partnership signed in 2024.[11]
Controversy
editConflict with Coca-Cola
editIn 1994, Polar made a TV commercial where a polar bear considers drinking a Coca-Cola, but throws it into a recycling bin marked, "Keep the Arctic pure." The polar bear then reaches down into the freezing Arctic water and pulls out a can of Polar Seltzer and drinks from it contentedly.[12] Coca-Cola filed a motion for an injunction against Polar in United States District Court in Boston, contending that the commercial made Coke's product appear impure.[13]
The court granted Coca-Cola's motion because the commercial "implied that Coke [was] not pure" and misrepresented the nature and quality of Coke, thereby potentially harming the soft drink irreparably.[12] The injunction required Polar to revise the ad. According to Polar, the judge's ruling affirmed the right of Polar to use a polar bear in its ads, but limited them from discarding the Coke can.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Top 25 Bottlers Report 2007" Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Hoover's Company Profiles". Hoovers.com. 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
- ^ "History". Polarbev.com. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
- ^ a b "The cult of Polar Seltzer: Why one brand of carbonated water has New Englanders obsessed | Boston.com". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ see https://polardry.com
- ^ "A sparkling new era for time-tested Polar Seltzer". Polar Beverages. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ "Seltzers". Polar Seltzer. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "Polar Beverages goes nationwide in blockbuster deal with Keurig Dr Pepper - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ "The Polar Bear That Has Coke Steaming". Businessweek. 1995-01-15. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
- ^ "Goliath: Business knowledge on Demand". Goliath.ecnext.com. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
- ^ "U.S. Sailing announces Polar Beverages as official seltzer partner". U.S. Sailing. January 31, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Cocaine-Cola, the Velvet Elvis, and Anti-Barbie: Defending the Trademark and Publicity Rights to Cultural Icons. Steven M. Cordero. Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, 1998
- ^ a b "Ruling Revises Polar Bear Ad". New York Times. 1995-01-03. Retrieved 2012-06-12.