Wests (drink)

Wests NZ is a manufacturer of soft drinks and cordials based in Dunedin, New Zealand.^[1] It is the oldest continuous manufacturer of soft drinks in New Zealand.^[2]

Wests began production in 1876 when Tom West created a range of cordials^[1] in the back of his grocery store in Maclaggan Street, Dunedin.^[3] These proved popular with the city's inhabitants and provided growth for the fledgling business. Production expanded to include ginger beer in 1906, and in 1914 a purpose-built factory was constructed in Saint Kilda in the south of the city.^[3]

The business was owned by Alf and Kaye Loretan from 2007, before they sold it to Angela and Craig McFarlane in 2021.^[1]

Wests today produces soft drinks and cordials in a range of flavours, many of them unique to the brand. These include chocolade (chocolate-flavoured lemonade), RedZenergy (energy drink), cola and raspberry, and pineapple and pear. Wests also produce milkshake and slushy syrups, as well as postmix concentrates and soda syrup refills in a variety of flavours.

Many of Wests' regular soft-drink flavours are also offered in sugar-free varieties, which has led to the company offering New Zealand's largest range of sugar-free soft drinks.^[3] Diet milkshake as well as soda syrup flavours have recently also been added to the company's sugar-free range.

Located next to the production factory, Wests' factory shop offers the range of Wests' products as well as general convenience store products.

• Foxton Fizz

• Wests New Zealand Limited