Spiro Spathis

Egpytian soft drink brand by MYMCO

Spiro Spathis

Type| Soft drink
Country of origin | Egypt
Introduced| 1920
Website| www.spirospathis.com

Spiro Spathis is an Egyptian carbonated soft drink,[1][2] which is manufactured by MYMCO (for Food And Beverage Company).[3]

## History

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### Founding

[edit]

Old Spiro Spathis sign

In 1909, Nicolas Spathis, a Greek entrepreneur from Alexandria, began producing and selling lemonade soda in green glass bottles.[4] Two decades later in 1920[5][6] his nephew, Spiro Spathis, expanded the family venture[4] in Cairo, by establishing Egypt's first soda beverage[7] and a soft drink's business that bore his name.[8][9][10] The company's logo featured a buzzing bee, a nod to the family's involvement in apiary businesses at the time.[4]

The product gained popularity across Egypt, prompting the founder to expand operations by purchasing a factory on Rue Emadeddin.[4][11] In 1921, Spiro introduced a new flavor to complement the original lemonade: an apple cider flavoured drink which quickly became popular among the local consumers.[4] This was followed by tonic water and a rebranded bottle in 1925.[12] The year 1935 marked the addition of several new flavors including ginger ale, "lime juice & soda", grenadine, and grapefruit. In recognition of the brand's local success, Spiro Spathis was awarded the Farouk I Medal in 1941.[12][10]

In 1950, Spiro's daughter, Aftakhia Spathis, took over the business.[12]

### During the Infitah era and effect, change in ownership

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The brand maintained its popularity until 1974 when Egypt's third president, Anwar Sadat, launched the Infitah (Open Door) policy as an economic reform aimed at reducing Egypt's reliance on locally socialist policies.[12] The policy opened the market to foreign investment, encouraging integration with the global market.[12] However, the shift increased the country's dependency on imported good and contributed to the decline of local industries from foreign competitors.[4][12]

The company remained family-owned until 1998 when it was acquired by the Sasba Carbonated Water Company,[6] which was later renamed MYMCO Food And Beverage Company.[13][14][12] The purchasing company was founded in 1970 by brother businessmen Talaat Atwan and Samir Atwan, who had been working on developing local soft drinks.[15] MYMCO undertook a modernisation of the product line.[12]

After a temporary closure in 2014, Spiro Spathis relaunched in 2019.[16]

### 2023: Resurgence

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The brand resurged in popularity following a national campaign to boycott international products in relation to support of Israeli occupation and war on the Gaza Strip.[17][18][19] Sales increased by 300% in 2023[20] and the company receiving over 15,000 job applications.[21]

## References

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1. ^ Salma El Wardany, Leen Al-Rashdan, Nicolas Parasie, Daniela Sirtori (26 January 2024). "Starbucks, Coke Boycotts Over Gaza War Are Boosting Middle East Rivals". Bloomberg News.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. ^ Ariba Shahid; Jessica DiNapoli; Farah Saafan (4 September 2024). "Coke and Pepsi boycott over Gaza lifts Muslim countries' local sodas". Reuters.
3. ^ "Spiro Spathis website homepage". Spiro Spathis.
4. ^ a b c d e f Dina Ezzat (2022-01-04). "Nostalgia in a bottle". Al-Ahram. Retrieved 2024-09-09.[page needed]
5. ^ Hendawi, Hamza; Oweis, Khaled Yacoub; Homsi, Nada. "Disillusion with the West amid Israeli strikes on Gaza fuels Arab boycott of brands". The National. Retrieved 2024-09-09.[page needed]
6. ^ a b Tabikha, Kamal. "Pepsi out, local brands in as Egyptian soft drinks get a political flavour". The National. Retrieved 2024-09-09.[page needed]
7. ^ Harounoff, Jonathan (2024-08-31). "How anti-Israel protests are costing companies billions". Retrieved 2024-09-09.
8. ^ عبد المجيد, ابراهيم (2022). استراحة بين الكتب [A break between books] (in Arabic). منشورات إبييدي. ISBN 978-9776892316.
9. ^ John Bambridge (3 May 2024). "Boycotts are a boon for local brands". www.meed.com.
10. ^ a b Ezz, Nelly (2023-11-16). "Bubbles and Legacy: The Rich History of Spiro Spathis, Egypt's Iconic Soda Beverage". Cairo 360 Guide to Cairo, Egypt. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
11. ^ عبيد, مصطفى (2020). سبع خواجات [Seven foreigners] (in Arabic). Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah. ISBN 978-9777953900.
12. ^ a b c d e f g h El Shafie, Farida (2023-11-02). "Egypt's First Soda Brand is Making a Comeback… & Rightfully So". CairoScene. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
13. ^ "شركة مصرية 100% .. أول رد من سبيرو سباتس على أنباء تعاقدها مع كوكاكولا" [100% Egyptian Company.. First Response from Spiro Spathis to News of its Contract with Coca-Cola]. Nabd (in Arabic). 16 April 2024.
14. ^ محمود سامي (5 November 2023). ""لن نشرب دماء إخوتنا".. مقاطعة داعمي إسرائيل تنعش المنتج المصري" ["We will not drink the blood of our brothers".. Boycotting supporters of Israel revives Egyptian products]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic).
15. ^ عماد أبو الفتوح (9 December 2023). ""سبيروسباتس".. قصة المشروب الغازي الذي ارتفعت أرباحه بعد طوفان الأقصى" ["Spiro Spathis" .. The story of the soft drink whose profits increased after the Al-Aqsa flood]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic).
16. ^ Yasmin Shabana (19 November 2023). "'Boycott Israel' breathes new life into 100-year-old Egyptian soda brand". Al Jazeera English.
17. ^ Giorgia Valente (21 March 2024). "Local products replace Western brands as boycott gains momentum on Ramadan". The Jerusalem Post.
18. ^ Niveen Wahish; Nesmahar Sayed (12 November 2023). "Making the list". Al-Ahram.[page needed]
19. ^ Al Sherbini, Ramadan (2023-11-01). "Anti-Israel campaign puts 103-year-old Egyptian drink back in the spotlight". Gulf News. Retrieved 2024-09-09.[page needed]
20. ^ Sophia Yan (12 November 2023). "Coca-Cola out, Egyptian soda in as anti-Western boycott sweeps Middle East". The Daily Telegraph.[page needed]
21. ^ Khalid, Muhammed (2023-11-03). "Boycott campaigns in Egypt: Effective weapon or friendly fire?". Al-Ahram. Retrieved 2024-09-09.[page needed]