‘It’s unreal, I love it’: Halls soft drinks hit the shelves in South Australia after over 20 years

It’s been 23 long years since the iconic range of soft drinks was on SA shop shelves and now it’s marching off them at one popular supermarket chain.

Iconic soft drink brand Halls is back on shelves and “flying out the door” in South Australia for the first time in more than 20 years.

Popular for its Fruita, Lemon Twist and Stonie Ginger Beer drinks, Halls revived range started hitting the shelves at Drakes supermarkets on Thursday.

The company has a rich history in the state after it was founded by George Hall in 1849 before going out of production in 2000 until its comeback began at the former MOJO Kombucha production facility at Willunga in October, with the help of a $500,000 from the state government’s Thriving Regions Fund.

16 year old Emma Tippin tried Fruita for the first time ever on Thursday, as soon as it hit the shelves at Fulham Gardens Drakes where she works.

“It’s not like anything I have ever tried before but in the best way,” Emma said.

“It’s like Passiona with a twist.”

Fulham Gardens Drakes manager Wayne Mitchell with staff member Emma Tippins. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Manager Wayne Mitchell, who has worked with Drakes for 37 years, said the taste is “pretty much the same” to the ones he grew up with.

“I’m just glad to see them back, they were a good sell back in the day,” Mr Mitchell said.

“It’s a good products and its bringing back a lot of memories for me for sure.”

Director of Drakes Supermarkers John-Paul Drake has already reviewed the classic drinks on his popular social media channels.

In a video, he first tries the iconic Fruita, saying it “smells exactly” as it used to.

“It’s like Fruita, it’s a bit Passiona, it’s very sweet,” he said.

Lemon Twist was up next, with Mr Drake saying it smelled “lemon-y”.

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“It’s so bubbly too, it’s got a bit of a twist to it. It tastes unreal, this is a great product. It’s super lemon-y, gives a bit of sweet but also a bit of sour in this too,” he said.

“Definitely different than the other lemon drinks on the market, it’s unreal, I love it.”

Next he tried the Classic Cola, which he said was more of a traditional cola.

“It’s not Pepsi, it’s not Coke, it’s more like a Bickford’s cola, which I rate as one of the best colas you can get,” he said.

“My tastebuds haven’t changed in 45 years, they still taste really amazing.”

Mr Drake said stock was already “flying out the door” but Drakes was working with their local suppliers to restock as quickly as possible.

The Halls label was sold to Coca-Cola in 1972, and production of Halls Soft Drinks moved to a factory in Thebarton the following year.

But the Hall’s name was discontinued in 2000, as Coca-Cola brought several labels under the brand, Kirks. The Halls trademark was finally purchased by Adelaide businessman Cameron Ballard after a near three-year battle with global powerhouse Coca-Cola, and was rumoured to return for summer of 2021.

The new drinks are being produced in glass bottles in a 330ml size and one litre size.