| Extra info | Founded by Francisco Miret Gili and Francisco Miret Carbonell in 1868.
The Miret family, of Catalan origin, lived in Barcelona, ??in the old quarter near the Ramblas. From there they went to Palma de Mallorca where, approximately 150 years ago, the industrialist Francisco Miret Gili founded Can Miret. In its precious containers, 1868 appears precisely as the date of the founding of the industry.
The main activity was the seltzer water (siphon), but it was also dedicated to the manufacture of soft drinks, liquors, beer and mint, cocoa and coffee creams. The company began distributing with magnificent carriages. At first they only distributed the products in Palma and its surroundings, but very quickly they grew until they had warehouses in all the towns on the island, they even had branches in Inca and Felanitx. The Simonet family marketed Inca products and the Sansó family those of Felanitx. They bottled an infinite number of flavors and were the exclusive distributors of Pilsen, Vienna and Bohemia beers. His slogan: "Miret, lemon and orange with glass skin."
Francisco Miret, father and son, visited different European countries seeing how the most modern machines of the time work, thus obtaining the latest technology for their company.
In 1891, the European Scientific Institute, resident in Paris, distinguished Miret y Compañía with the appointment of full member, since it was known for its great contributions in the exhibitions in which they had participated (published in El Isleño on August 13 1891). Among other international awards that she would obtain throughout her history, she was awarded a Grand Prix gold medal at the 1889 Paris International Exposition.
In 1903, in Spain there were only two Carl-Crou machines. One was owned by Mr. Petry, makers of the important Moritz beer, and the other was owned by Francisco Miret. Can Miret could boast of being one of the most distinguished companies in all of Europe.
Francisco Miret Carbonell, called "Paco" to his friends, lived and worked as a merchant for several years in Argentina, where he married Eusebia Nigelia Caballero in 1889 at the age of twenty.
In 1896, recently arrived in Spain, he founded the company Francisco Miret Carbonell y Compañía, a company that was also dedicated to foreign trade. Its trademark was applied for in 1906 by F. Miret and Son, obtaining the title registration certificate with the international patent number 12640. The drawing consists of an anchor whose sides have the letters F and M, initials of the manufacturer's first and last name.
In 1912 they inaugurated the factory on Arc de la Mercè street in Palma de Mallorca. According to press clippings, it was quite a spectacle witnessed by the authorities, attended by numerous noblemen.
Having no children, Francisco Miret bequeathed the factory to one of his nephews, José Vidal Miret, son of his sister Emilia, and from him it passed to his son Joaquín Vidal Oliver. From a very young age, José Vidal had a passion for the factory and for his uncle, to whom he sent letters and postcards that are still preserved today and that show the affection and love he felt for him.
In 1937, José Vidal had to apply to Palma City Council for permission to open a new factory, as the old one was too small for them. The new address would be located at calle Aragón, corner Uetam, nº 60.
On March 24, 1948, Mr. Bernardino Amengual Campins, as managing director of Miret SA, signed the sale of the Miret industry in Inca to José Simonet Rotger. Miret SA undertook not to sell its products in Inca and so José Simonet began to sell Simonet products in that region.
No two brands of soft drinks are the same, each one, depending on its treatment, has unique organoleptic characteristics, which lead to success or failure. Much of the success of their products was due to the formula and the amount of carbon dioxide added. Productos Miret was the market leader for many years, especially in Palma, since little by little new companies of soft drinks, pineapples and siphons began to emerge. In the seventies there were 131 companies dedicated to this business in Mallorca. Almost every town had its own factory, or even two, as was the case in Felanitx. The tourists did not ask for a soft drink, they asked, please, the Miret soft drink. One of its registered containers was very similar to Coca Cola.
But the pressure came from the big brands, with whose prices the small factories could not compete. The increasingly strict regulation required these small industries to meet the same requirements as large companies and many chose to close or change their line of business devoting themselves to distribution. Consumption habits were also changing, and the consumption of products such as soda or siphon decreased. As a consequence of all these factors, most of the factories disappeared.
On June 3, 1976, the Miret family sold the factory, leaving behind more than a hundred years of history. Other companies continued to distribute the Miret brand, but it was never the same again. What would their original sodas and pineapples have that other merchants have tried to succeed with the same brand and yet have not succeeded? Would it be his formula? Could it be the effort and affection that this family dedicated to their factory?... After talking with Mr. Joaquín Vidal Oliver, we are convinced that it was the communion between the two. We leave you with a few images of the containers (some really spectacular) used by this factory, including those of the Orambo brand, which they also bottled. |
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