In 1950 Roberth Barth and the biologist Hans Süsli Zurich used a recipe initially conceived to produce a beer made with whey to create a soft drink, which came to be marketed as Rivella Red in 1952, when Rivella AG was founded. The name Rivella was inspired by the municipality of Riva San Vitale in Canton Ticino and the Italian word for "revelation", rivelazione. The initial production began in Stäfa before moving to Rothrist, where it remains to this day. Second variety of Rivella was launched in 1958 in the Netherlands and in 1959 in Switzerland, known as Rivella Blue, a lower calorie alternative to the original recipe. It was the first diet soft drink to be launched in Europe. A third variety, Rivella Green, was launched in 1999 made with green tea extract, and Rivella Yellow, made with soy milk as an alternative to milk whey, in 2008. In 2000 the presidency was passed on from Robert Barth to his son Alexander Barth, before the death of Robert Barth in 2007. Until 2008, Swisssupermarket chainMigros stocked an own-brand version of the beverage called Mivella, which was made by Rivella specifically for the supermarket. In 2008, Migros replaced it with Rivella as it did not enjoy the same popularity among customers as the original drink. In 1977 Rivella began sponsoring the Swiss National Ski team. In 2017 they celebrated 40 years of partnership in St. Moritz.
Rivella Red contains 160 kJ of energy per 100 ml as 10g of sugar.
Rivella Blue contains 14 grams of lactose and artificial sweeteners instead of refined sugar. This reduces the energy content to 30 kJ per 100 ml.
Rivella Green also contains green tea extracts. Its energy content is 90 kJ per 100 ml.
Rivella CLIQ combines the classic Rivella taste with rhubarb or peach flavourings. The energy content of both varieties is 160 kJ per 100 ml.
Availability
Rivella is seen as Switzerland's national beverage. The share by value of Rivella AG in the Swiss soft drinks market was 15.3 per cent in 2013, putting Rivella second to Coca-Cola. Rivella is a long-established brand in the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Rivella Light was launched as a diabetic beverage in the Netherlands in 1958. It appeared on the Swiss market one year later as Rivella Blue. The Netherlands remain the largest foreign market for Rivella. Rivella is also available in the regions bordering Switzerland in Germany, France and Austria. Rivella beverages available abroad are made to the same recipe as in Switzerland with the exception of the Netherlands, where beverages are made by Rivella licensing partner Vrumona using concentrate supplied by Rivella.
