ATLANTA -- Cheerwine soda is now available in Atlanta, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Our first ship date to Atlanta was early to mid-May. It's now starting to appear on shelves," Tom Barbitta, vice president of marketing for Salisbury, N.C.-based Carolina Beverage Corp., told the newspaper. "We're thrilled we're going to be moving into Atlanta."
Barbitta said the cherry-flavored highly carbonated beverage is being stocked in metropolitan Atlanta Wal-Mart, Kroger, Publix, Ingles and Food Lion stores, with plans to roll out in convenience stores next. Cheerwine [image-nocss] is available in 20 states, including California, but mostly east of the Mississippi, he said.
Founded in 1917 and still family-owned, the brand has a quirky, devoted following, said the report. Cheerwiners are something of a fraternity, Barbitta said. The brand has its own Facebook page and a humorous website, www.cheerwine.com, which has satirical news reports detailing devotees' efforts at scoring their favorite drink.
The brand is not dreaming of conquering Coke's stronghold on its hometown, but does look to please its fan base and add some devotees. "We are not a ubiquitous cola," Barbitta said. "Everyone knows who Coca-Cola is. Not everyone knows who Cheerwine is."
According to Cheerwine's website, "In the early 1900s, soft drinks were often named for their appearance, hence the names root beer and ginger ale. Therefore, it made sense to name a burgundy-red, bubbly, cherry concoctionCheerwine."
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