1953
COCKTA IS CREATED AND INTRODUCED TO THE MARKET

The First Cockta Bottle.

In the early 1950’s, the father of Cockta, Mr Emerik Zelinka, working for the Slovenijavino Beverage Company, created a refreshing drink made of excellent natural ingredients. He combined dog rose berries, vitamin C with its pleasantly tart taste, various herbs, pure spring water, and caramelised sugar. He named it ‘Cockta’, which comes from the word ‘cocktail’, suggesting a mixture of ingredients. The first public promotion of Cockta took place on 8 March 1953 at the Planica ski jumping events, where visitors were greeted in every corner by a poster of a little girl drinking Cockta. The rounded quarter litre bottle, filled with a brown fizzy liquid alluded to the Western lifestyle. In the very same year, the first million litres of Cockta were produced, the equivalent of 4.5 million bottles.

1953-1974
25 PER CENT YEARLY GROWTH IN SALES
The First Cockta TV Ad

In the first fourteen years since its creation, Cockta boasted a 25 per cent yearly growth in sales. In 1967, for instance, 80 million bottles were sold, all markets combined. Cockta was in fact one of the best selling export products from Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia), and for a couple of years, they were shipping as far as the Netherlands. Towards the end of the 1960’s, the first drinks from foreign competitors appeared on the national market. Customers’ interest in Western products reversed Cockta sales trends.  

1975
THE ONE LITRE BOTTLE

Ad: Ingredients

In 1975, Cockta becomes available in one litre bottles.

1980
THE DRINK OF YOUR YOUTH AND OURS
Ad: Esther Williams

In the late 1970’s, Cockta became a family drink, an alternative to sparkling mineral water. At the beginning of the 1980’s, Cockta was marketed under the slogan ‘The Drink of Our and Your Days of Youth’, which sparked a big increase in sales, with peak sales reaching 37 million litres.

1983-1994
DECREASING SALES
Cockta Ad

In the middle of the 1980’s, Cockta saw a decrease in sales as a result of several factors: the emergence of similar products copying the original in the markets across the Yugoslav Federation, the dissolution of the Yugoslav market and the disintegration of the Slovin Company.

1996
A NEW INCREASE IN SALES
The 1996 Cockta Bottle Design

In the mid 1990’s, the production and bottling facilities of Cockta were taken over by the Slovenijavino Company and sales began to increase.

2000
REVISED BRAND IMAGE

The 2000 Cockta Bottle Design

In 2000, the Kolinska Food and Drink Company took over the Cockta brand and decided to remodel the brand’s image (the design of the label, logo, the bottle itself). But it remained true to its original image, in accordance with the new motto: ‘You will never forget your first’. This strategy once again persuaded young customers all across the former Yugoslavia, and Cockta made a grand return to the shelves, in shops, bars and restaurants.

2001
‘YOU WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST’

A Printed Ad

After 2001, Cockta was further promoted with new marketing campaigns, making it an even more recognised and popular product among the young generation. Please see certain printed ads from past marketing campaigns. See also the ‘You Will Never Forget Your First Campaign’.

2002
FOOTBALL AND 'I MISS COCKTA' CAMPAIGNS
Felix postcard

A campaign with Zlatko Zahovič and Srečko Katanec.

2003
GOOD COCKTA
Good Cockta video

'Good Cockta' campaign

2004
SOULMATES CAMPAIGN
Billboard advertisement

A new, fresh campaign targeting the young. Cockta became available in newly designed containers, which include the new 0.33l plastic bottle.

2005
COCKTA LIGHT
Cockta light video

The launch of a sister product, Cockta Light

2006
COCKTA 06
Cow Video

Simple and funny cartoon characters become faithful companions of Cockta: duckling, bottle opener, giraffe, cow...

2007
COCKTA 07
Caffeine Video

New TV commercials