where we come from.
Mirco and Lorenz first meet as children in the Scouts.
As students, they are bound by a close friendship and a desire for independence. They keep a notebook of ideas, in which business models ranging from their own bar to a cleaning crew are recorded. It had to be something tangible, not purely virtual. Furthermore, it had to enable a life that promised fun and ensured they spent a lot of time in nice cafés.
Over frozen pizza and cola, a shared vision emerges.
2002
it can be done better.
That’s what two friends decide to do in 2002. Starting from scratch in their Hamburg dorm room with only a few thousand euros and a whole lot of determination they found fritz-kola. The mission: create a kola better than anything that “big cola” has to offer. No sooner said than done.
2003
the birth of a better kola.
On the 28th of February the company 'Hampel und Wiegert GbR' is born, their headquarters – their dorm. By March they’ve won their first customers, leading to a second round of production in April. The products are stored in private rooms, the basements, gardens and garages of their parents - kicking their cars to the curb.
2004
fritz wird fruchtig.
Only a year after our launch, four exciting flavours are added to the product range. Two apple-based spritzers, a refreshing, citrus-flavoured lemonade straight out of childhood, made with a mouth-puckering mix of lemon and orange, and finally, The one and only honeydew-melon soda that has been adding a flavour-filled splash of colour to shelves ever since.
2006
eyes wide open.
Good news times two. The launch of our sugar-free kola alternative. A perfect balance of taste and sweetness, with no added sugars, zero calories but lotsnlots of caffeine. next up, our barista’s best - the coffee-kola soda with a robust coffee flavour and of course, lots of caffeine.
And with this all-star lineup we go international. Starting in the Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.
2008
down to the river.
In 2008 we make our way to the mighty Elbe, moving our office to Billbrook and changing our form – Hampl und Wiegert GbR becomes fritz-kola GmbH. But that’s not the only thing that changes. As we continue to expand - an external sales team is formed.
Changes are afoot on the product side as well. Not only are the 0.2l bottles introduced, but another flavour is added to the family - our orange lemonade, a sun-filled bottle of joy all year round.
2012
die perfekte mischung.
mischmasch joins our already colourful family, making it even more diverse. By mixing our original kola with orange lemonade, a vibrant “mishmash” of citrus and kola is combined to create a one-of-a-kind taste experience.
2014
growing up, getting bigger.
The 0.5l bottle is introduced. The handy screw cap is the perfect alternative for on the go. Available for mischmasch, apple spritzer and of course our original fritz-kola.
As we’re always eager to broaden our horizons fritz-kola becomes fritz-kulturgüter (cultural goods), a purveyor of fine taste, in all domains.
New spritzers are brought to life in flavour-packed grape and rhubarb. The apple spritzer joins the family as well, switching from a lemonade to a spritzer – with all the spritzers of the highest organic quality. The rhubarb spritzer comes with 40% unconcentrated organic rhubarb juice, the grape spritzer with 50% and the apple spritzer with even more, at 66%. Each one tasting like it was freshly picked and pressed by grandma.
2016
times are changing.
In December, one of our founders leaves fritz-kola. Lorenz Hampl sells his shares,
at his own request, to the other founder, Mirco Wolf Wiegert, and leaves the
company.
2019
staying edgy.
The new 0.2l bottle is the physical manifestation of how we do our communication – edgy.
2021
as green as it gets.
We've made our organic kola even greener and tastier. Even better ingredients - purely organic - are on their way to conquer your taste buds. With natural flavours of bourbon vanilla, and oils from ingredients like lime, cinnamon bark, clove and cardamom, you'll experience the highest level of kola enjoyment.
2022
super taste. superzero sugar.
Our latest kola. Because if zero, then superzero: intense fritz-kola taste, full caffeine, zero sugar.
2023
new director.
Florian comes on board as new Managing Director. super zero is now available in 20 cl.
2024
New bottle design and new name.
fritz-kola receives a new logo and a contemporary bottle design. The new logo
continues to show Mirco’s face; Lorenz’s face is replaced with a new one
created by designer Chris Mitchell.
In addition, the fritz-limo ginger-lime expands our portfolio.
