History

Our history begins in 1943, when the founder Nicos C. Lanitis became a cosmetics manufacturer. The production of essential oils, extracted from aromatic plants and the treatment of citrus fruit grown on family plantations, was our main business at the time. Hair salons were our clientele but also significant quantities were exported abroad. Until 1949, the product portfolio was enriched with a range of fruit squashes and cordials made from fresh fruit, such as, lemon and orange.

Nicos C. Laniti bottler 1 official Coca-Cola bottler

Our history changed on the 10th of June in 1950, the day Lanitis Bros became the official Coca-Cola bottler and distributor in Cyprus, with its first bottling plant based in Limassol.

Our Company’s key milestones are as follows:

	1951 The great success of Coca-Cola made the Company import extra bottling machinery from Greece, with a charter flight, to double bottling capabilities and achieve 60 bottles per minute.

	1952 The current Nicosia plant was built with new machinery and a bottling capacity that could produce 210 bottles per minute.

	1954 The first family pack was introduced.

	1955 With the installation of 55 vending machines, one of Europe’s first full service operations gets underway.

	1956 The method of moving products by palettes was introduced.

	1957 A new bottling line was launched in the Nicosia factory capable of 490 bottles per minute. Also, the first in Europe, automated machine for checking soft drinks was installed.

	1959 The king size bottle in 355ml size was launched.

	1962 Our sports roots are deeply embedded in the local community and most important of all, was the agreement signed this year, with the Cyprus Football Federation for the sponsorship of the Cyprus Cup. In 1998, it was renamed the Coca-Cola Cup, as it continues to be known today.

	1965- 1969 Our favourite flavoured soft drinks, Fanta and Sprite were introduced and distributed along with Coca-Cola.

	1971 The one litre packaging is introduced in the market.

	1984 The installation of the canning line, considered of the best in the Middle East with bottling capabilities of 850 cases per hour. Aluminium cans are still the best selling packaging in Cyprus.

	1985 Diet Coca-Cola is launched which in 2008, was renamed Coca-Cola light.

	1986 The innovations continue with the launch of the 1.5 litre PET bottles for home consumption.

	1988 Lanitis juices and Fanta fruit drinks are produced in Tetra-Pak packaging.

	1991 A licensing agreement was signed with the Cadbury Schweppes Corporation, for the production and distribution, of the Schweppes product range.

	1995 The Company was the first in Europe to introduce the 250ml Tetra Slim Aseptic packaging for its Lanitis juices and one of the first in the world to introduce the Tetra Rex 1litre package with a screw cap.1996 We enter the dairy market by importing the FAGE dairy product range.

	2000 Extra juice is packaged in Tetra Pak prisma 330ml. In October, we enter the fresh milk segment with the innovative 1 litre PET bottle.

	2001 In October, we enter the fresh milk segment. Packaged in the innovative 1 litre PET bottles it manages to disrupt the local milk market, while the milk factory is constructed under the highest international standards for its kind.

	2006 The Company was acquired by Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Corporation on the 5th of April.

	Coca-Cola Hellenic Coca-Cola Hellenic is one of the largest bottlers of non-alcoholic beverages in Europe. It operates in 28 countries with a geographical range that stretches from the Republic of Ireland to the eastern-most parts of Russia, and from Estonia to Nigeria.

	2008 The first aseptic line in Cyprus is introduced, compliant with the strictest European standards, capable of producing 200 units of 250ml bottles per minute and 160 per minute for the 750ml size. Our SHAKES milk beverage range has managed once again to shake the status quo.

	2009 The launch of the illy issimo coffee brand in four flavours targeted to capture a big chunk of the important coffee segment of the island.

	Today We produce 35 million litres of sparkling drinks, 9.5 million litres of juices and fruit drinks and 28 million litres of dairy products With 475 full time employees, 10,700 coolers in the market and over 220 distribution vehicles to service 6,500 customers, the Company is the largest production and distribution organisation on the island.

History

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