The Pop Shoppe

The Pop Shoppe is a Canadian soft-drink brand that originated in London, Ontario, in 1969 under the direction of Gary Shaw. Its original business model was deliberately different from that of conventional carbonated-drink companies. Rather than relying primarily on established grocery-store distribution, the company sold its own beverages through franchised outlets and company-operated stores. Soft drinks were commonly offered in refillable glass bottles packed in cartons of 24, creating a recognizable shopping format and helping the brand build a strong regional identity. Within approximately three years, the original business had expanded to more than 500 stores in Ontario. During the following several years it entered the United States and eventually distributed products across Canada and in 12 American states. The brand’s visibility was reinforced by former National Hockey League player Eddie Shack, who served as its principal public spokesman. The Pop Shoppe also became part of local popular culture in markets where its products were used as prizes or featured in local broadcasting. In Portland, Oregon, and nearby communities, for example, Pop Shoppe products were associated with KPTV’s Smile Contest and birthday appearances on The Ramblin’ Rod Show. The brand’s product portfolio was unusually broad for a regional soft-drink company. By about 1977, the Indianapolis bottling operation was distributing 26 original and diet flavours, including cola, cream soda, fruit punch, grape, ginger ale, grapefruit, lemon, lemon-lime, lime rickey, orange, pineapple, root beer, strawberry, tonic water, soda water, black cherry, cherry cola, and corresponding diet varieties for several flavours. This breadth, combined with the bottle-and-carton presentation, made the brand an early example of a distinctive regional soda concept rather than simply a smaller version of a national cola company. Sales slowed in the early 1980s, a decline commonly attributed to increasing competition from private-label grocery-store soft drinks. The original company ceased operations in 1983, and its trademarks expired in 1993. Some independent U.S. bottlers later used remaining bottles and cases to sell soft drinks under the name, but those activities were not connected with or authorized by the original brand. The brand was revived in the 2000s. Burlington businessman Brian Alger acquired the rights in 2002 and re-established The Pop Shoppe in 2004. The revived business changed the distribution model: instead of depending on a large network of company-owned shops, it used distributors, wholesalers, big-box clubs, and distribution centres. New glass bottles were introduced, but they were no longer refillable. They could nevertheless be returned for deposit where provincial recycling systems supported refundable containers, and the company stated that reclaimed glass was used in making new bottles. In 2008, the revived brand brought back a short, stubby-style bottle associated with its 1970s Canadian image. Its visual proportions made the bottle appear smaller beside the long-neck containers used by competing craft-soda brands, and the company later linked the format with a sharp sales decline. The stubby bottle was discontinued in 2011 in favour of a long-neck format more consistent with the wider industry. Beverage World Inc. acquired The Pop Shoppe in 2016. In 2020, the company discontinued its cola flavour, citing weak sales. The available reference material does not establish the brand’s current operating scale, ownership beyond Beverage World Inc., or whether all listed markets remain active.

The Pop Shoppe began in 1969 in London, Ontario, as a Canadian soft-drink venture founded by Gary Shaw. Its defining innovation was not a single flavour but a distribution and presentation system. The company bypassed much of the conventional grocery-retail structure by selling through franchised outlets and its own stores. Customers could purchase soft drinks in refillable glass bottles, generally packaged in cartons of 24. This format gave the brand a visible physical identity and encouraged repeat purchases built around returning bottles and buying assorted flavours. The concept expanded rapidly in Ontario. Within three years, the company had grown to more than 500 stores in the province. It subsequently expanded into the United States and ultimately sold products throughout Canada and in 12 American states. The company’s public profile was supported by Eddie Shack, a former National Hockey League player who became its predominant spokesman. The brand also achieved localized visibility through television promotions. In the Portland, Oregon, area, Pop Shoppe products were used as prizes for KPTV’s Smile Contest and appeared in birthday-related segments on The Ramblin’ Rod Show. By approximately 1977, the brand had developed an extensive flavour catalogue. An Indianapolis bottling plant distributed 26 varieties, covering conventional flavours such as cola, orange, grape, root beer, cream soda, ginger ale, and lemon-lime, as well as less standard offerings including lime rickey, tonic water, soda water, black cherry, and several diet formulations. This variety helped distinguish the brand from businesses focused on a small number of flagship cola products. The original company weakened in the early 1980s. Available accounts associate the slowdown with competition from private-label soft drinks sold by grocery stores. The original operation ceased in 1983, while the brand’s trademarks expired in 1993. In later years, some small U.S. bottlers reportedly sold beverages using leftover Pop Shoppe bottles and cases. Those products were not authorized or affiliated with the original company, making the residual packaging distinct from an official continuation of the brand. The Pop Shoppe returned after Brian Alger acquired the brand rights in 2002 and re-established the business in 2004. The second phase retained the nostalgic glass-bottle identity but altered the commercial system. Products were distributed through wholesalers, distributors, big-box clubs, and distribution centres instead of the extensive company-store network associated with the original company. The new bottles were not refillable, although they could be refundable in provinces with applicable deposit-return systems. The company also promoted the use of reclaimed glass in producing new bottles. Packaging remained a major strategic issue. In 2008, the company restored the stubby bottle associated with the 1970s. The shorter bottle looked smaller beside long-neck bottles from competing craft-soda brands, and sales reportedly fell after its return. Management discontinued the stubby format in 2011 and adopted a long-neck bottle closer to the industry norm. Beverage World Inc. acquired the brand in 2016. In 2020, The Pop Shoppe removed its cola flavour from sale because of low demand. The supplied references do not provide enough information to confirm the brand’s current distribution footprint, executive team, or operating status.

1. 2020Cola flavour is discontinued

   The company discontinued its cola product because of low sales.

   Source
2. 2016Beverage World Inc. acquires the brand

   Beverage World Inc. became the reported owner of The Pop Shoppe.

   Source
3. 2011Stubby bottle is discontinued

   The short bottle was withdrawn after the company associated the format with a decline in sales.

   Source
4. 2008Stubby bottle returns

   The brand brought back the short glass bottle associated with its 1970s packaging.

   Source
5. 2004Brand re-established

   The Pop Shoppe returned to the market under Alger’s ownership and a revised distribution model.

   Source
6. 2002Brand rights are acquired by Brian Alger

   Brian Alger acquired rights to The Pop Shoppe name before relaunching the business.

   Source
7. 1993Original trademarks expire

   The original trademarks expired after the first company had ceased operations.

   Source
8. 1983Original company ceases operations

   The original Pop Shoppe business stopped operating after sales weakened amid private-label competition.

   Source
9. 1977A 26-flavour portfolio is distributed from Indianapolis

   The Indianapolis bottling operation distributed a broad range of regular and diet soft-drink flavours.

   Source
10. 1975Expansion into the United States

    The company entered the United States during the following three years and later reached 12 American states.

    Source
11. 1972Ontario expansion exceeds 500 stores

    Within roughly three years of its founding, the company had expanded to more than 500 stores in Ontario.

    Source
12. 1969The Pop Shoppe is founded in London, Ontario

    Gary Shaw established the original Canadian soft-drink business in London, Ontario.

    Source

A nostalgic, regional craft-style soda brand built around distinctive glass packaging, a broad flavour assortment, and a heritage associated with Canadian retail innovation.

• Regular soft drinksCarbonated soft drinks1969

  The original portfolio included cola, cream soda, fruit punch, grape, ginger ale, grapefruit, lemon, lemon-lime, lime rickey, orange, pineapple, root beer, strawberry, tonic water, soda water, black cherry, and cherry cola. The broad assortment was central to the brand’s regional identity and distinguished it from narrowly focused cola competitors.

• Diet soft drinksDiet carbonated soft drinks1977

  By about 1977, The Pop Shoppe also distributed diet versions of several flavours, including black cherry, cherry cola, cola, ginger ale, grapefruit, lemon, orange, root beer, and strawberry. The diet range extended the brand’s flavour-led assortment beyond standard full-sugar sodas.

• Glass-bottled sodaPackaging and format1969

  Glass packaging has been a core part of The Pop Shoppe’s identity since its original operation. Early products used refillable bottles sold in 24-bottle cartons. The revived brand introduced new, non-refillable glass bottles that could be refundable in applicable provincial deposit systems and later experimented with a short stubby format before returning to a long-neck design.

• Smile Contest

  Portland · Oregon · and surrounding areas

  Pop Shoppe products were featured as grand prizes for winners of KPTV’s Smile Contest, giving the regional brand television exposure in the Portland market.

  Outcome. The promotion helped associate the brand with local television culture, although the supplied material does not quantify its commercial effect.

  Source
• The Ramblin’ Rod Show birthday appearances

  Portland · Oregon · and surrounding areas

  Pop Shoppe products were used in birthday-related appearances on KPTV’s The Ramblin’ Rod Show.

  Outcome. The activity contributed to local awareness of the brand; no measured campaign result is provided.

  Source

• 2020Cola flavour discontinuedOther

  The cola flavour had insufficient sales according to the company’s stated rationale.

  What changed. The Pop Shoppe stopped selling its cola flavour.

  Aftermath. The brand’s remaining flavour portfolio continued without the discontinued cola product; no additional sales or market data is provided.

  Source
• 2016Acquisition by Beverage World Inc.M&A

  The revived brand had been operating under rights acquired by Brian Alger in the early 2000s.

  What changed. Beverage World Inc. acquired The Pop Shoppe.

  Aftermath. Beverage World Inc. became the reported owner; the supplied material does not describe transaction terms or subsequent organizational changes.

  Source
• 2011Return to the long-neck bottleGeneration change

  The stubby bottle was associated with a decline in sales after its 2008 reintroduction.

  What changed. The company discontinued the stubby format and aligned the packaging with the industry’s long-neck craft-soda bottle style.

  Aftermath. The change ended the brief packaging experiment, although the supplied material does not report later sales results.

  Source
• 2008Reintroduction of the stubby bottleGeneration change

  The company sought to restore a packaging format strongly associated with the brand’s 1970s heritage.

  What changed. The short, stubby-style bottle was brought back to retail shelves.

  Aftermath. The bottle appeared smaller beside competing long-neck craft-soda bottles, and the company reported that sales fell. The format was later discontinued.

  Source
• 2004Relaunch through distributors and wholesale channelsStrategy

  The revived brand did not recreate the original company-owned-store network.

  What changed. The Pop Shoppe was distributed through distributors, wholesalers, big-box clubs, and distribution centres.

  Aftermath. The change shifted the brand from a dedicated retail-store system toward broader wholesale and packaged-goods distribution.

  Source

• 2020The Pop Shoppe discontinues its cola flavour

  The brand stopped selling its cola flavour, citing low sales.

  Product generationOther
  Source
• 2016Beverage World Inc. acquires The Pop Shoppe

  Beverage World Inc. acquired The Pop Shoppe brand.

  M&A
  Source
• 2008The Pop Shoppe revives its 1970s stubby bottle

  The revived brand reintroduced a short, stubby-style glass bottle associated with its earlier Canadian identity.

  Product generation
  Source
• 2004The Pop Shoppe brand is re-established after rights acquisition

  Burlington businessman Brian Alger re-established The Pop Shoppe after acquiring rights to the brand in 2002. The revived operation used distributors, wholesalers, big-box clubs, and distribution centres rather than the original company-owned-store model.

  Other
  Source

1. The Pop Shoppe
2. Popping down memory lane
3. The Pop Shoppe - pops back