By Rachel Hart
It’s David v Goliath.
Today Paeroa accountant Tony Coombe takes on the multi-billion dollar corporation Coca-Cola Amatil to see who owns the copyright of the phrase ‘World Famous in New Zealand’.
In 2000, Mr Coombe registered his company World Famous In New Zealand Ltd with the Companies Office to tie in with the L&P Cafe, which he used to co-own. But Coca-Cola Amatil, which owns the L&P brand, isn’t happy and wants to trademark the name.
Picture the scene… back in the very early 1900s a group of honest locals were working hard in a cow paddock, when they stumble across a spring. One good Kiwi bloke decides the cool water would make a refreshing drink, and takes a swig. Word spreads and a couple of other locals have the bright idea of adding a slice of lemon.
In 1907, Menzies and Co began bottling the drink in Paeroa, and the drinks popularity spread across the country. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The property and spring changed hands between various owners over the years. In 1934, the drink was produced from a factory in Paeroa for the first time (previously it had been made in Auckland). But history would repeat itself, and in July 1980 the Paeroa factory was closed by its new owners and the whole production unit moved to Auckland. The ownership of the original spring remains with the Auckland firm – although this has now been absorbed by American-based company Coca-Cola Amatil.
L&P has become much more than just a soft drink. Along with the Buzzy Bee, jandals and hokey pokey icecream, it’s one of our most recognisable Kiwiana symbols. And it’s musical! A collection of New Zealand musicians recorded a cover of Martha and the Vandellas song (Love is Like A) Heat Wave in an advert for Lemon & Paeroa in the late 1980s.
New Zealanders were divided on the success of a new variation of L&P in 2005 - ‘Sweet As L&P’ which contained an artificial sweetener. The slogan was also given a tweak to read "World Famous in New Zealand since quite recently". The traditional L&P now took on the revamped slogan "World Famous in New Zealand since AGES ago”.
To this day, L&P can only be found in New Zealand, and a select few speciality stores around the world.
3 News
source: newshub archive
