Vivi Kola

What Vivi Kola does

Vivi Kola (operating legally as ViCollective AG) is a Swiss beverage producer founded in 1938 and relaunched in 2010 by Christian Forrer and Kurt Lambert after a 24-year production hiatus. The company self-develops and self-produces a portfolio of approximately 10 SKUs — including VIVI Kola Original, Kola Zero, lemon, blood orange, apple spritzer, mate, iced tea, spritz, and vodka mate — at its own bottling plant in Eglisau, in the Zurich region of Switzerland. Core inputs include real kola nuts sourced via a Fairtrade cooperative in Ebolowa, Cameroon, organic citrus from Sicily, and organic Swiss apples. The company employs approximately 20 people spanning production, operations, sales, marketing, and executive functions.

The business operates a multi-channel distribution model within Switzerland, reaching consumers through SBB/CFF onboard train restaurants (exclusive placement since June 2025, displacing Coca-Cola), Coop and Migros supermarket chains, Coop Pronto convenience stores, the Galaxus online marketplace, a long tail of HORECA accounts (restaurants, cafés, bars), and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at vivikola.ch. Revenue is generated through wholesale B2B transactions (HORECA and retail), B2C unit sales via the online shop, and event sponsorship/merchandise activities anchored by the VIVI Zuricrit cycling race. The brand monetizes its 86-year heritage, Tour de Suisse sponsorship legacy, and Swiss-made positioning as the primary differentiators against mass-market international cola brands. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; B2B pricing is handled via direct sales contact. Sister brand ViCafe (specialty coffee) operates under the same ViCollective AG corporate umbrella.

Name

Vivi Kola

Legal name

ViCollective AG

Website

https://vivikola.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Soft Drinks & Carbonated Beverages

NAICS

Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)

SIC

Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB)

Keywords

• Swiss cola beverages
• Soft drink manufacturing
• Natural ingredient sodas
• HORECA beverage supply
• Original kola recipe

Headquarters

HQ city

Eglisau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales (B2C): Sale of beverages through Swiss supermarket chains (Coop, Migros), convenience stores (Coop Pronto), and online retailers (Galaxus). Consumer purchases directly from retail outlets.
2. HORECA / Foodservice (B2B): Supply of beverages to restaurants, cafés, bars, and SBB/CFF onboard train restaurants. Revenue generated through wholesale orders to hospitality businesses.
3. Online Shop (D2C): Direct-to-consumer sales via the company's own e-commerce storefront at vivikola.ch. Customers can purchase products online with delivery by A-Post.
4. Event Sponsorship & Merchandise: Sponsorship of cycling events (VIVI Zuricrit) and related merchandise (e.g., vintage VIVI jerseys via Le Picot partnership).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VIVI Kola produces and sells a portfolio of Swiss-made natural soft drinks from its bottling plant in Eglisau, Zurich region. The flagship offering is the original Swiss cola (launched 1938, relaunched 2010), made with real kola nuts sourced via a Fairtrade cooperative in Cameroon, complemented by sodas (lemon, blood orange, apple spritzer), mate beverages, iced tea, and aperitifs. The portfolio contains over 10% less sugar than conventional colas and is sold through Swiss retail (Coop, Migros), HORECA, the SBB onboard train restaurants, and the company's own D2C online shop.

Product overview

VIVI is a Swiss beverage company producing a portfolio of soft drinks and functional beverages from its facility in Eglisau, Switzerland. The product lineup centers on two cola variants (Original and Zero), complemented by a range of natural sodas (Lemon, Blood Orange, Apple Spritzer), functional tea beverages (Mate, Mate Zero, Iced Tea), and aperitifs (Spritz, Vodka Mate). All products are manufactured locally in the Zurich region with predominantly natural ingredients, and the portfolio is unified under the VIVI brand umbrella with a focus on honest drinks with character for active, adventure-oriented consumers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ViCafe: Sister brand offering high-quality Swiss specialty coffee. ViCafe operates cafes and listening stations in Eglisau.

Products and services

• VIVI Kola Original The original Swiss cola first produced in 1938, made with real kola nut, containing over 10% less sugar than conventional colas.
• VIVI Kola Zero Sugar-free version of the classic Swiss cola, offering the same authentic taste without sugar.
• VIVI Zitrone (Lemon) Organic lemon soda made with Sicilian lemons with a hint of ginger, featuring natural flavors.
• VIVI Apfelschorle (Apple Spritzer) Sparkling apple drink made from Swiss organic apples, a refreshing soda option.
• VIVI Blutorange (Blood Orange) Blood orange soda made from Sicilian organic oranges, produced in Switzerland.
• VIVI Mate Organic mate drink with cascara tea, providing energy and refreshment.
• VIVI Mate Zero Sugar-free mate beverage with cascara, offering the benefits of mate without sugar.
• VIVI Eistee (Iced Tea) Swiss iced tea in a distinctive pink-labeled bottle.
• VIVI Spritz Non-alcoholic aperitivo bitter orange and elderflower drink, a Swiss-crafted option for celebrations.
• VIVI Vodka Mate Alcoholic mate beverage created in collaboration with Turicum Distillery. Requires age verification (18+).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10% less sugar than conventional colas
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SBB/CFF (Swiss Federal Railways)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2025Starting June 12, 2025, VIVI Kola is served in all SBB/CFF onboard train restaurants across Switzerland — a milestone contract exactly 15 years after the 2010 brand revival. VIVI Kola displaces Coca-Cola in this captive, high-visibility channel, reaching millions of Swiss train travelers annually.
• VIVI ZuricritcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVIVI Kola is the main sponsor of VIVI Zuricrit, the fastest and most urban cycling race in Switzerland. This builds on the brand's historical Tour de Suisse sponsorship heritage from the 1950s cycling golden era.
• Tour de Suisse (Historical)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFrom 1949 onwards, VIVI Kola was the main sponsor of the Tour de Suisse during the golden era of Swiss cycling. The sponsorship made VIVI Kola famous throughout Switzerland and earned it the nickname 'racing driver beer' (Rennfahrerbier). After crossing the finish line, winners were photographed holding a VIVI Kola — a contractually required photo opportunity.
• Le PicotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe Picot, a young Swiss fashion label, created a collection of retro cycling jerseys inspired by the iconic VIVI Kola design from the 1950s. Made from 100% high-quality merino wool, the jerseys tribute the golden age of Swiss cycling and the brand's heritage. A VIVI Kola team participated in L'Eroica cycling tour wearing the jersey.
• Fairtrade Cooperative 'Made in Ebolowa' (Cameroon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIVI Kola works with a local Fairtrade initiative in Ebolowa, Cameroon, to source kola nuts. The partnership guarantees fair working conditions for local farmers and enables VIVI to use real kola nuts in its beverages. Five VIVI employees traveled to Cameroon in the spirit of the original 1938 kola nut expedition.
• ViCafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViCafe is the sister brand under ViCollective AG, offering high-quality Swiss specialty coffee. Both brands share headquarters in Eglisau and collectively create a unique Swiss beverage experience rooted in tradition, innovation, and passion for quality. The brands are co-located and cross-promote each other.
• Elvetino (SBB Restaurant Operator)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElvetino operates the onboard restaurants in SBB trains. Through this partnership, VIVI Kola is distributed as the featured Swiss cola in all SBB onboard dining cars.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PepsiCo: Global beverage and snack incumbent. Pepsi previously bottled at VIVI's Eglisau facility before the 2010 revival. Comparable as the second major cola competitor whose marketing and distribution scale dwarfs VIVI and which historically has ties to VIVI's production location.
• Coca-Cola: Global beverage giant and VIVI's largest direct competitor in the cola category. Recently displaced by VIVI in SBB onboard restaurants. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering carbonated soft drinks across all Swiss retail and HORECA channels with vastly larger marketing and distribution resources.

Others

• ViCafe: VIVI's sister brand under ViCollective AG, operating specialty coffee shops and listening stations in Eglisau. Thematically related as an adjacent beverage brand under the same corporate umbrella, illustrating the parent platform's multi-category beverage strategy beyond soft drinks.

Emerging players

• Olipop: US-based functional/prebiotic soda brand targeting health-conscious consumers. Comparable to VIVI as a next-generation soft drink brand attacking the soda category from a functional, lower-sugar positioning, demonstrating the disruptive threat from venture-funded craft entrants.

Regional players

• Michel Getränke: Swiss beverage company producing juices and soft drinks for the domestic market. Comparable to VIVI as another Swiss CPG beverage producer competing for retail and HORECA share, though with a different product mix focused on juices and traditional Swiss soft drinks.
• Ramseier Suisse: Switzerland's leading fruit juice and soft drink producer. Comparable to VIVI as a domestic Swiss beverage manufacturer competing for the same shelf space in Coop, Migros, and HORECA — but with broader scale, deeper distribution, and a more diversified product portfolio across juices and soft drinks.

Direct peers

• Boylan Bottling Co. US craft soda manufacturer with heritage roots (founded 1891), known for premium glass-bottled sodas including cola. Comparable to VIVI as a heritage craft cola/soda brand competing against Coca-Cola with natural ingredients, traditional formulations, and a vertically integrated bottling approach.
• Fentimans: UK-based craft botanical soda maker with a heritage positioning similar to VIVI's Swiss heritage narrative. Comparable as a premium craft soft drink brand sold across retail and HORECA, offering natural-ingredient alternatives to mass-market colas and leveraging storytelling around authentic recipes.
• Fritz-Kola: Germany's leading independent craft cola brand, founded 2003. Highly comparable to VIVI as an independent, regional craft cola that uses natural ingredients, differentiates against Coca-Cola/Pepsi through brand storytelling, and has expanded into a multi-flavor soft drink portfolio across DACH retail and HORECA.
• Virgil's: US craft soda brand specializing in premium sodas including root beer and cola. Comparable to VIVI as a craft cola brand with natural ingredients competing against mass-market colas at retail and foodservice, often with heritage and authenticity storytelling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ViviKola
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vivi-kola
• Instagraminstagram.com/vivikola

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vivi Kola