Glaret Maine Soft Drinks Ltd. is a company based in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, which sells soft drinks, cordials and aerated waters. During the early 21st-century recession, it remained in Ballymoney while several other companies with large numbers of employees disappeared.[1] The company was founded by John Harkness in 1949, and is named after the River Maine.
Traditional Peacock Blue Lorries
As well as having a presence in retail outlets, Maine is also known for its fleet of distinctive green lorries which deliver soft drinks door to door in Counties Antrim, Londonderry and Down. The person driving the lorries is often known colloquially as "The Lemonade Man" or The Maine Man or more commonly The Mineral Man.
Many of the products sold by Maine are specific to them in Ulster, such as American Kola, Scottish Cola, and Limeade; and some are specific to Ulster but not to Maine, such as Brown Lemonade.
Maine Men can still be found on the streets of Ulster and deliver 6 days a week to thousands of locals. They cover all of Northern Ireland and parts of County Donegal.
Products
As of 2023, Maine sells the following products:[2]
- Maine - Soft drinks, lemonade, soft drinks and diluted juice
- McDaid's Football Special - Mixed flavored soft drink
- Vitazade - Small soft drinks
Depots
There are depots in Belfast, Mallusk and Derry.
Controversy
In 1998, Maine Soft Drinks product Smak drew the ire of anti-drugs campaigners in Scotland when it went on sale there, saying that it could trivialise heroin abuse.[3]
References
- Claire McNeilly, Lesley-Anne Henry. Ballymoney: Behind the brave faces, a town fears for its future: Ballymoney's residents tell our reporters of their concerns in the recession The Belfast Telegraph, 18 September 2010^
- Products Archive^
- Residents angered by drink called Smak