For many Australians, Bickford’s is a brand that’s just always been around — the signature glass bottle of cordial brought out on a hot summer’s day as the perfect thirst quencher.
But behind the home-grown company is 150 years of history, starting inside the walls of an apothecary in Adelaide before evolving into one of Australia’s most popular non-alcoholic beverage brands employing more than 250 people across the country.
Where it all began
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The story of Bickford’s begins on the SS Platina, which sailed into Port Adelaide from England on February 15, 1839.
On board was William Bickford from Devon, who had £10 to his name and a dream of being a sheep farmer.
The 23-year-old not only had a new life in Australia, but also a new wife after meeting Ann Margaret Garrett on board the ship.
They married not long after arriving in the country.
With the price of sheep a bit over William’s budget, he decided to fall back on his skills as a chemist — taking out a £220 loan and opening Adelaide’s first apothecary store on Hindley St in 1840.
William made various tinctures and medicines for the settlers who now called Adelaide home, but who often struggled with the dry climate and reliance on intermittent shipments of resources from overseas.
The creation of Bickford’s iconic lime cordial
An early iteration of what would become Bickford’s best-selling cordial flavour was created during this time.
William capitalised on a common problem affecting limes, which were being shipped in barrels from the Caribbean in a bid to counteract scurvy — a disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C — in Australia.
By the time the limes arrived in Australia, they were brown and their juice was deemed undrinkable.
But for the entrepreneurial William, the spoiled limes actually presented a business opportunity — as Bickford’s current head of sales, marketing and hospitality Chris Illman explained to 7NEWS.com.au.
“Around 1845, William had this great idea that what he would do is (add) sugar, and he would add a bit of extra water and remove the acid with some of the tonics he had, and turn this into a beverage,” he said.
“That was the first incarnation of lime cordial.
“He found a unique … opportunity through innovation to actually turn this brown lime juice into cordial.”
The apothecary produced 84 bottles a day.
Today, Bickford’s factory in Salisbury produces 12,500 bottles of lime juice cordial every hour.
It remains one of the company’s best-selling products, and was even recognised by the National Trust of South Australia as a Heritage Icon in 2006.
Bickford’s Brown Lime cordial, which honours the drink’s origin, is only available in South Australia.
Ann’s time to shine
William was only 35 years old when he died from pneumonia on September 11, 1850.
Ann took over the company, spearheading its growth and evolution into the iconic beverage brand Australia knows today.
Working alongside her children, the company became A M Bickford & Sons in 1874. That same year, the business acquired an aerated water and cordial factory on Waymouth St.
Being a female figurehead of a successful company was impressive at the time, Illman said.
“When you consider what the challenges would have been as a female in an emerging colony in the 1850s, she takes over a family business … and has the vision to actually acquire an aerated water business and then start up what would now be seen as Australia’s number one non-alcoholic portfolio produced locally in little old South Australia,” he said.
With the help of the factory, the business was now producing 500 bottles a day — which quickly increased to 1500 thanks to gas and horse powered equipment.
Ann died in 1877 and the business remained in the family until it was bought by holding company Drug Houses of Australia (DHA).
The business went through many hands in the following years — including the Lloyd family, of Lloyd Aviation, in 1987 — but finally found its current owner, Angelo Kotses, in 1999.
The Bickford’s of the 21st century has expanded past just cordials to selling a range of beverages including juice, iced coffee syrup, traditional sodas and alternative dairy products.
It exports to 47 countries worldwide.
It’s all about nostalgia
Illman said the company’s focus on family, tradition and heritage has helped it endure over 150 years.
Its signature glass bottle and vintage-style label sets it apart from other competitors.
“Even though from 1874 to 2024 there has been family ownership (and) there has been large organisation ownership, over the journey we’ve always stayed true … to the traditional qualities of the product,” Illman said.
“We’ve also maintained the elements that people love — the glass bottle and … that label design … from a nostalgic time.
“Nostalgia is really strong driver of consideration these days.
“We’ve held (those) nostalgic elements (that are) very true to the brand DNA all the way through those 150 years.”
To celebrate its 150 anniversary, Bickford’s has released six new limited edition flavours: Lime Spider, Strawberry Lime Crush, Raspberry Ripple, Mango Coconut Splash, Pink Lemonade and Creamy Soda.
The latter flavour is Illman’s current favourite.
“It’s just outstanding,” he said.
“I’m hooked on creamy soda at the moment.”
Bickford’s has also released a limited edition lime cordial label honouring the major milestone.
Illman said the special anniversary was something the company was “tremendously proud of”.
“I would think that Ann would have never conceived that the business would have the trajectory it did,” he said.