Double Cola Company

The Double Cola Company is an American soft-drink manufacturer headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its principal product is Double-Cola, a cola that became associated with unusually large bottles and a longstanding regional presence, particularly in markets east of the Mississippi River. The company also developed and marketed flavored carbonated drinks, ginger ale, energy drinks, coconut water, and ready-to-drink tea. The business originated in 1922, when former Chero-Cola employees Charles D. Little and Joe S. Foster established the Good Grape Company in Huntsville, Alabama. The company moved to Chattanooga during the same year and initially concentrated on Good Grape. Little later created Marvel Cola, which was reformulated and renamed Jumbo Cola; the company subsequently operated under the name Seminole Flavor Company. In 1933, it introduced Double-Cola, which soon became its flagship product. The name referred to the drink's 12-ounce bottle, at a time when many competing soft drinks were sold in smaller containers. Double-Cola's early development took place during a period of intense competition and industry change. The company continued bottling its larger format during the sugar-rationing constraints of World War II, a decision that placed pressure on production. The brand survived independently and continued to build recognition through a portfolio that included Double-Orange, Double-Lemon, Double-Grape, and Double-Dry ginger ale. In 1953, Seminole Flavor Company adopted the name The Double Cola Company, aligning the corporate identity with its best-known product. The company expanded its packaging and product portfolio in the postwar period. In 1956, it created Ski, an orange-and-lemon citrus soft drink made with real orange and lemon juice. The name was selected through an employee contest and was inspired by a weekend ski trip on Chickamauga Lake. In 1957, Double-Cola became one of the first major soft-drink products marketed in a 16-ounce returnable bottle. Diet Double Cola followed in 1962. Ownership changes affected the company after the launch of the diet product. Charles D. Little sold the business to Fairmont Foods in 1962. The company was later acquired by Pop Shops International and subsequently by K.J. International, Inc. in 1980. The available reference material describes the business as privately held rather than as a publicly traded subsidiary of a listed beverage company. In the twenty-first century, Double Cola retained its traditional carbonated soft drinks while pursuing adjacent beverage categories. Diet Double-Cola was reformulated with Splenda in 2010, and the core Double-Cola brand received updated branding and packaging in 2012 without a reported ingredient change. The company also introduced Quad Energy, MINŌKU Coconut Water, and ZILI Tea during the early 2010s. Double-Cola remains primarily a regional American beverage brand, with availability in selected international markets and a market identity built around continuity, large-format packaging history, and retro appeal.

The Double Cola Company traces its origins to the Good Grape Company, founded in 1922 in Huntsville, Alabama, by Charles D. Little and Joe S. Foster, both of whom had previously worked for Chero-Cola. The new company moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the same year. Its initial focus was Good Grape, but the business soon broadened its portfolio as Little developed Marvel Cola in 1924. After reformulation, Marvel Cola was renamed Jumbo Cola, and the company adopted the name Seminole Flavor Company. The decisive product-development milestone came in 1933 with the creation of Double-Cola. Its name reflected the 12-ounce bottle used at launch, which was approximately twice the size of many soda bottles then common in the market. Double-Cola quickly became the company's principal product. The company followed it with Double-Orange, Double-Lemon, Double-Grape, and Double-Dry ginger ale, establishing a family of flavored soft drinks rather than relying on a single cola formula. World War II created operational pressure through sugar rationing. Seminole continued using its larger bottles, but the format increased the burden on production during a period when ingredients and manufacturing capacity were constrained. The company nevertheless continued operating independently. In 1953, it changed its corporate name from Seminole Flavor Company to The Double Cola Company, making the flagship beverage the central identity of the enterprise. The postwar era brought further packaging and product innovation. In 1956, the company developed Ski, a citrus soda made with real orange and lemon juice. The name emerged from an internal naming contest; employee Dot Myers submitted Ski and Skee after being inspired by a weekend trip on Chickamauga Lake, and management selected Ski. In 1957, Double-Cola was marketed in a 16-ounce returnable bottle, a notable format innovation for a major soft drink at the time. Diet Double Cola was introduced in 1962. That same year, Charles D. Little sold the company to Fairmont Foods. The reference material characterizes the Fairmont period as one in which the business lost resources and momentum. Ownership later passed to Pop Shops International, which focused attention on its existing brands, and then to K.J. International, Inc., which acquired the company in 1980. The company is described as remaining privately held. Double Cola's later history combines preservation of its core soft-drink identity with selective diversification. Diet Double-Cola was reformulated with Splenda in 2010. In 2012, the core brand received new branding and packaging while its ingredients reportedly remained unchanged. The company also expanded into energy drinks through Quad Energy and into non-carbonated beverages through MINŌKU Coconut Water and ZILI Tea. These moves extended the company's range beyond cola and traditional carbonated drinks while retaining Double-Cola as its signature product. The company primarily distributes Double-Cola in the United States east of the Mississippi River, while the product and related offerings have also appeared in selected international markets. The reference material identifies the business as a Chattanooga-based soft-drink manufacturer rather than a publicly listed corporation. Its historical significance rests on its longevity, large-bottle positioning, regional distribution model, and continued association with classic American soda culture.

1. 2013ZILI Tea introduced

   The company launched ZILI Tea as a ready-to-drink tea brand.

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2. 2012Brand refresh and Quad Energy expansion

   Double-Cola received updated branding and packaging, and the company expanded into energy drinks with Quad Energy.

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3. 2010Diet Double-Cola reformulated

   Diet Double-Cola was reformulated with Splenda to make its taste more similar to regular Double-Cola.

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4. 1980K.J. International acquired the company

   K.J. International, Inc. acquired Double Cola from Pop Shops International.

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5. 1962Diet Double Cola launched and ownership changed

   The company introduced Diet Double Cola and Charles D. Little sold the business to Fairmont Foods.

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6. 195716-ounce returnable bottle introduced

   Double-Cola became one of the first major soft drinks marketed in a 16-ounce returnable bottle.

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7. 1956Ski developed

   The company created Ski, an orange-and-lemon citrus soft drink that became one of its best-known products.

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8. 1953Company renamed The Double Cola Company

   Seminole Flavor Company changed its name to The Double Cola Company.

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9. 1933Double-Cola introduced

   The company developed Double-Cola, named for its unusually large 12-ounce bottle and soon adopted as its flagship product.

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10. 1924Marvel Cola developed

    Charles D. Little created Marvel Cola; after reformulation, the product became Jumbo Cola and the company operated as Seminole Flavor Company.

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11. 1922Good Grape Company founded

    Charles D. Little and Joe S. Foster founded the Good Grape Company in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved the business to Chattanooga during the same year.

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A heritage American soft-drink company centered on traditional cola, regional distribution, distinctive large-format packaging history, and nostalgic brand presentation.

• Double-ColaCola1933

  The company's signature cola, introduced in 1933. Its name was linked to the original 12-ounce bottle, which was unusually large compared with many soda bottles of the period. Double-Cola remains the core product associated with the company and is distributed primarily in the eastern United States, with availability also reported in selected international markets.

• Diet Double ColaDiet cola1962

  A reduced-calorie cola introduced in 1962. The product was reformulated with Splenda in 2010 in an effort to produce a flavor closer to regular Double-Cola.

• SkiCitrus soft drink1956

  A citrus carbonated beverage developed in 1956 and made with real orange and lemon juice. The name was selected through an employee contest and remains one of the company's notable products outside the cola category.

• Double-Orange, Double-Lemon, and Double-GrapeFlavored carbonated soft drinks

  A group of flavored soft drinks introduced after Double-Cola as the company broadened its early beverage portfolio. The available reference identifies the flavors but does not provide separate launch dates or current availability.

• Double-DryGinger ale

  A ginger-ale product developed as part of the company's early extension into non-cola carbonated beverages. Detailed information about its later distribution is not available in the supplied references.

• Quad EnergyEnergy drink2012

  The company's energy-drink line, reported as launching with five flavors: Berry Fusion, Lime Craze, Low Carb Kick, Orange Twist, and RE-Charge.

• MINŌKU Coconut WaterCoconut water2012

  A coconut-water line introduced as part of Double Cola's move beyond carbonated soft drinks. The product was described as ethically sourced in Thailand and sold nationally in the United States.

• ZILI TeaReady-to-drink tea2013

  A ready-to-drink tea brand launched in 2013. Company descriptions positioned ZILI Teas as natural teas intended to hydrate and refresh consumers.

• 2012Double-Cola branding and packaging refresh

  United States

  The company updated Double-Cola's branding and packaging while retaining the existing ingredient formula, according to the supplied reference.

  Outcome. The refresh reinforced the brand's contemporary presentation while preserving its established product identity.

  Source

• 2013Enter ready-to-drink tea with ZILIProduct launch

  The company continued its diversification beyond core carbonated soft drinks.

  What changed. Double Cola launched ZILI Tea as a ready-to-drink tea brand.

  Aftermath. ZILI extended the company's offering into non-carbonated beverages; subsequent performance is not documented in the supplied material.

  Source
• 2012Expand into adjacent beverage categoriesStrategy

  The company had historically been identified primarily with carbonated soft drinks, but the beverage market included growing non-cola and functional categories.

  What changed. Double Cola introduced or developed products including Quad Energy and MINŌKU Coconut Water.

  Aftermath. The move broadened the portfolio beyond traditional soda, although the supplied references do not provide later sales or distribution results.

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• 2010Reformulate Diet Double-Cola with SplendaGeneration change

  The company sought to make the diet product taste more like the regular cola.

  What changed. Diet Double-Cola was reformulated using Splenda.

  Aftermath. The reformulation represented an effort to align the diet variant more closely with the flagship product.

  Source
• 1962Sell the company to Fairmont FoodsOther

  After decades under its founding ownership, the company was sold during the period when Diet Double Cola was introduced.

  What changed. Charles D. Little sold the company to Fairmont Foods.

  Aftermath. The supplied history describes the Fairmont period as one in which the company lost resources.

  Source
• 1957Adopt a 16-ounce returnable bottleProduct launch

  The company had a history of emphasizing larger-than-standard bottle formats, beginning with Double-Cola's original 12-ounce packaging.

  What changed. Double-Cola was marketed in a 16-ounce returnable bottle, described in the reference as a first among major soft drinks.

  Aftermath. The format became part of the company's packaging history and its association with generous serving sizes.

  Source

• 2013ZILI Tea launched

  The company entered ready-to-drink tea with ZILI Tea, positioned as an all-natural tea range intended for hydration and refreshment.

  Product launch
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• 2012Double-Cola received updated branding and packaging

  Double-Cola underwent a branding and packaging update while the available reference states that its ingredients remained unchanged.

  CampaignProduct generation
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• 2012Quad Energy launched

  The company introduced Quad Energy, an energy-drink line reported with five flavors: Berry Fusion, Lime Craze, Low Carb Kick, Orange Twist, and RE-Charge.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2012MINŌKU Coconut Water introduced

  Double Cola expanded beyond carbonated soft drinks with MINŌKU Coconut Water, described in the reference material as being sourced in Thailand and sold nationally in the United States.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2010Diet Double-Cola reformulated with Splenda

  The company reformulated Diet Double-Cola with Splenda to bring its flavor profile closer to that of regular Double-Cola.

  Product generation
  Source

1. Double Cola Company
2. Double Cola official website