splante
Well-Known Member
Heres a little story about Yacht club soda here in RI. One of the few "small" operations that survived the coke and pepsi onslaught. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM 411 THE NEWS JOHNSTON RI
Yacht Club Soda bottles
a family tradition
By DANA BROWN
For The 411
Nearing their centennial anniversary, Yacht Club Soda, the official soda of Rhode Island, has been bottling up soft drinks since 1915. Over six generations and two families, this local pop producer is run by John and Mike Sgambato. Together, they operate the washing, filling, mixing and labeling machine lines; deliver their products to local restaurants and businesses; and represent themselves and
their unique drinks at local farmer’s markets. Just after the turn of the twentieth century, the business was founded by the Sharp family, who brought over the name Yacht Club Soda from a bottling
company in England. In 1935, John and Mike’s Grandfather, John, started to work for the Sharps. By
1940 he was managing the company. In 1960, John and his son Bill bought the venture from the Sharps. It’s been in the Sgambato family ever since. At the production center in Centredale, RI, they keep the operation simple, fresh and clean. The water they use for their receipt is welled through bedrock 180 feet beneath the building. The temperature of the water, 45 degrees, allows it to be carbonated
without further cooling equipment, and the chemical makeup of the water doesn’t require additives in the carbonation process. The syrup is made onsite the same day the soda is mixed and bottled. Only fine
grain pure cane sugar is used, not high fructose corn syrup. The machines that churn everything out
were bought between the 1940’s -50’s. This means that the Sgambato’s have been using the same procedures to make their soda for decades. By mixing the same day, and using no preservatives they are able to cut down on waist. Only glass bottles are used. Returning bottles is encouraged. “Re-use is the best form of recycling,†says John Sgambato. For years, Yacht Club Soda has been a green company. In the nineties, they struggled, fighting the larger consolidating soda companies. In the past ten years, especially the last five, the market has come around to what they’ve been doing all along, focusing
on locally produced, green products. “People want something worth while,†says John. “They’re willing to spend a few more pennies to get something with more quality. You can see it by looking at the
ingredients. There are 5, not 35.†John personally spent a year and 20- 25 batches perfecting the most recent flavor: Ginger Beer, a hearty, full flavored, spicy soda. “It takes me a long time to settle on
a flavor,†he says. The soda was sampled at local restaurants until he found a flavor that everyone liked.
The Sgambato’s work with local schools along the lines of donations and drives. “We do as much as we can to help out the community,†says John. Recently, they adopted a new label designed by the RISD student, William Van Lancker. Each bottle now sports an emblematic anchor, representing the coastal history of the state that has harbored their flavors. A variety of flavors are available. From classic Cola, to mellow Root Beer. From clear seltzers to Pineapple soda that tastes like a freshly picked fruit from the beaches of Puerto Rico. Lemon-Lime, Orange, Ginger Ale, Cream, Cherry Cola, Tonic, Grape and saparilla are just some of the flavors the Sgambato family has been mixing up for decades. Yacht Club Soda can be found at local restaurants and shops up and down the east and west bays, all around Providence and Newport and at expanding locations throughout the state. John and Mike personally represent their soda at the Farm Fresh farmer’s market in Hope Village, Pawtucket every Saturday throughout the year as well as the Hope St. farmer’s market in the summer. For further information Yacht Club Soda can be found on facebook, twitter and their website: yachtclubsoda.com.
Yacht Club Soda bottles
a family tradition
By DANA BROWN
For The 411
Nearing their centennial anniversary, Yacht Club Soda, the official soda of Rhode Island, has been bottling up soft drinks since 1915. Over six generations and two families, this local pop producer is run by John and Mike Sgambato. Together, they operate the washing, filling, mixing and labeling machine lines; deliver their products to local restaurants and businesses; and represent themselves and
their unique drinks at local farmer’s markets. Just after the turn of the twentieth century, the business was founded by the Sharp family, who brought over the name Yacht Club Soda from a bottling
company in England. In 1935, John and Mike’s Grandfather, John, started to work for the Sharps. By
1940 he was managing the company. In 1960, John and his son Bill bought the venture from the Sharps. It’s been in the Sgambato family ever since. At the production center in Centredale, RI, they keep the operation simple, fresh and clean. The water they use for their receipt is welled through bedrock 180 feet beneath the building. The temperature of the water, 45 degrees, allows it to be carbonated
without further cooling equipment, and the chemical makeup of the water doesn’t require additives in the carbonation process. The syrup is made onsite the same day the soda is mixed and bottled. Only fine
grain pure cane sugar is used, not high fructose corn syrup. The machines that churn everything out
were bought between the 1940’s -50’s. This means that the Sgambato’s have been using the same procedures to make their soda for decades. By mixing the same day, and using no preservatives they are able to cut down on waist. Only glass bottles are used. Returning bottles is encouraged. “Re-use is the best form of recycling,†says John Sgambato. For years, Yacht Club Soda has been a green company. In the nineties, they struggled, fighting the larger consolidating soda companies. In the past ten years, especially the last five, the market has come around to what they’ve been doing all along, focusing
on locally produced, green products. “People want something worth while,†says John. “They’re willing to spend a few more pennies to get something with more quality. You can see it by looking at the
ingredients. There are 5, not 35.†John personally spent a year and 20- 25 batches perfecting the most recent flavor: Ginger Beer, a hearty, full flavored, spicy soda. “It takes me a long time to settle on
a flavor,†he says. The soda was sampled at local restaurants until he found a flavor that everyone liked.
The Sgambato’s work with local schools along the lines of donations and drives. “We do as much as we can to help out the community,†says John. Recently, they adopted a new label designed by the RISD student, William Van Lancker. Each bottle now sports an emblematic anchor, representing the coastal history of the state that has harbored their flavors. A variety of flavors are available. From classic Cola, to mellow Root Beer. From clear seltzers to Pineapple soda that tastes like a freshly picked fruit from the beaches of Puerto Rico. Lemon-Lime, Orange, Ginger Ale, Cream, Cherry Cola, Tonic, Grape and saparilla are just some of the flavors the Sgambato family has been mixing up for decades. Yacht Club Soda can be found at local restaurants and shops up and down the east and west bays, all around Providence and Newport and at expanding locations throughout the state. John and Mike personally represent their soda at the Farm Fresh farmer’s market in Hope Village, Pawtucket every Saturday throughout the year as well as the Hope St. farmer’s market in the summer. For further information Yacht Club Soda can be found on facebook, twitter and their website: yachtclubsoda.com.
