CCSI Cork Crowncap Database - Brewer/Bottler
|
 Brewer/bottler #5317 | | | Name | Cosmos Bottling Company |
| | | | | | | | | Extra info | The Cosmos story began in 1918 when Wong Ning, a native of Guangdong Province, migrated to the Philippines and established the Manila Aerated Water Factory along Misericordia St. in Manila. When World War II broke out, the Japanese Army incarcerated Wong Ning because of his affiliation with the Kuomintang government and later he died in prison. His seven children, led by the eldest son Dr. Henry Gao-Hong Wong took over the family business after the War and Manila Aerated Water was renamed Cosmos Bottling Corporation in 1945.
The popularity of Cosmos Sarsaparilla and other drinks allowed the company to expand to Hong Kong in 1947 with the incorporation of Cosmos Aerated Water Co Ltd. and a bottling plant on located at 350-352 Castle Peak Road in Kowloon. The Hong Kong operation was taken care of by younger brother Hubert and Freddy Wong. After 1966, the COSMOS Hong Kong business seemed to have faltered, although its corporate registration is still active today. The Hong Kong plant offered eight flavors: sarsaparilla, orange, cream soda, lime, lemon, mulberry, grape and pineapple.
In the late 60s, Cosmos Sarsaparilla officially changed its name to "Sarsi", which has since become a generic term for many sarsaparilla sodas in Asia. Likewise the Cosmos cola was renamed "Pop Cola" and orange flavor became "Sunta."
Cosmos Bottling Corp. has changed ownership four times. It used to be owned and controlled by Filipinos since its founding in 1945. As the Philippines’ first cola bottler, it was sold by its original owners to RFM Corp., a Filipino corporation, in 1989. Cosmos was not as profitable as they expected it to be and sold it to San Miguel Corp. in 2002. Five years after buying Cosmos from RFM, SMC sold it to Coca-Cola Company, owner of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), for $590 million. |
| | | | | | | Other names used for this Brewer/bottler | | Name 1 | Cosmos Bottling Corporation |
| | | Name 2 | Manila Aerated Water Factory |
| | | Name 3 | Cosmos Aerated Water Co. Limited |
| | Extra info | Kowloon, Hong Kong
Incorporated on 20-NOV-1947 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|