BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BRYSON – it was an amazing drink that came in tall glass bottles and became an integral part of the culture and history of St. Kitts and Nevis. It was a drink that everyone enjoyed 'back in the day' the one that children ran to the shop to buy, then ran back home to sit on the step and revel in its sweet taste.
Many may remember the ‘Big Shot’ or ‘Big Red’ as it was also called; how it was mixed with a little milk that left one to enjoy its simmering ‘bubbliness’.
Some took pleasure in this delightful drink that complemented any food, while others simply enjoyed it as drink in its own right.
Where has the love for it gone? Has the love died?
SKNVibes spoke with a number of consumers who have voiced that the love cooled off since the change was made from using glass plastic bottles to package their sodas to using plastic bottles. They indicated that it is not as pleasurable as it used to be.
They simply preferred the ‘Bryson’ that came in the glass bottles because of the ‘sweeter’ taste it had.
“It had a sweeter taste. Not meaning the level of sugar that was used but the flavour was more enjoyable. With the plastic bottles, it is just not the same,” one person said.
Another explained, “I miss those Bryson days, mixing a big red with milk; nothing sweeter than that! For some reason the sodas have a different taste. The glass bottled sodas were a lot better. The experience is not the same.”
Some say that even the Coca Cola was better packaged in glass.
“I love my Coca Cola! I used to enjoy it more in the glass bottle though. There was just something different about it which I loved,” one individual said.
Of all the persons asked about their thoughts on the change from glass to plastic, most simply said, “It is just not the same”.
In speaking with Nicolas Menon, one of the Directors of the St. Kitts Bottling Company (SKBC), he explained that the change from using glass bottles to plastic bottles was based on a number of reasons.
He explained that the machine used to fill the glass bottles had reached its life limit, and that getting the parts to repair the machine as well as getting an entirely new machine was difficult.
He further explained that consideration was given to the fact that the glass bottles could have been hazardous where children and babies were concerned, as they can break as well as cause other damages.
He added that the weight of the glass bottles was also a concern.
Menon also pointed out that there was a market demand for the use of plastic bottles rather than the glass.
He revealed that the change from glass to plastic has given SKBC a chance to rekindle their export market as they are now able to do business with countries with which they could not before because of the demand for plastic which, at the time, the Company was not using.
While the change may have been an understandable one, reports indicate a downfall in recent sales.
According to TDC’s 2011 Annual Report, “The Net Income of the St. Kitts Bottling Company Ltd fell by 21 percent compared to the previous year. Local sales were reduced in almost every drink category and exports decreased by 68 percent over the prior year due to the absence of any major export contracts.”
However, Menon said that over the years since the change from glass packaging, there has been an increase domestic-wise as well as in supermarket sales.
Meanwhile, the local populace has been querying whether or not it would be a good idea for SKBC to return to the use of glass bottles rather than plastic bottles.
Menon, however, explained that there is no consideration being given into going back to the use of glass bottles, but the Board has been looking at a number of ways to recycle their plastic noting that it would take the participation of everyone for it to be successful.
On the other hand, SKNVibes spoke with Plant Manager, Lincoln Maynard of Carib Brewery St. Kitts-Nevis Ltd on whether or not the Company (which uses glass bottles) has considered a change of package for their products.
“There is always consideration, but at the end of the day we determine what our best options are and we use the best options that we have at that particular point in time,” he explained.
When asked about the views of their consumers, he said, “Different consumers say different things; obviously you have to look at what the majority of people are comfortable with and that is what we have done over the years as part of our consideration as to what type of package we use.”
In the fifties, sodas, along with Coca Cola were imported from Bryson’s Bottling Company of Antigua. The sodas and especially the red one came to be known as ‘Bryson’ drinks.
The drinks were first imported by Astaphan’s Bottling Company which was situated at the bottom of Church Street but when the Company was bought over by what is now known as the St. Kitts Bottling Company, they continued to order the ‘Brysons’ from Antigua.
Even when the Company began to produce its own sodas under the brand name of Sparkle, the sodas were still referred to as ‘Brysons’.
Will the ‘Bryson’ love ever resurface? What do you think?
