Pola Cola: Remembering the time Dundee had its own cola

Coca-Cola and Pepsi might dominate store shelves across the world today, but there was a day when Dundee also had its own cola brand - Pola Cola.

Locally manufactured by Robertson's in their Corso Street factory, Pola Cola was not just a cold drink - it was a daily reality of city life.

With its distinctive bottle shape and proudly displayed name on Scottish high street shelves, it gained a niche in a market when America's cola giants were not yet names on every doorstep across Scotland.

Long before the days of social media or global advertising campaigns, Pola Cola gained popularity through word of mouth, wall graffiti advertising, and frequent appearances by the lemonade man.

To Dundonians, it was the bread-and-butter beverage of childhood. Delivered to your door or bought from the high street shop - sometimes for as little as a few pence - Pola Cola was part of a family also including Sun-Joy orange juice and the others under the umbrella of Fergora.

The Pola Cola factory at the top of Maitland Street. (Picture: Dundee City Archives)

The return bottle scheme, where you’d get 5p back for bringing your empties back to the shop, added to the charm. It wasn’t just a drink - it was part of a whole cycle of local life, from sweet shop treats to summertime refreshment.

One of the more iconic memories lives in the Bridge Chipper, where old faded Pola Cola and Sun-Joy adverts remained in the window for decades.

And on Maitland Street, there used to be a wall with a giant mural of the Pola Cola polar bear - a charming local mascot that captured imaginations, especially children looking out from across the street.

Later, the company was taken over by Strathmore Springs, and as with many local fizzy drinks of the time, Pola Cola fell from view.

By the close of the 20th century it was no longer available for sale - but not forgotten. The original spirit was said to have been produced by Val Kosto from his base on City Road.

He even had a newsagent in Lochee, adding another thread to the drink's rich Dundee history.

Amongst some of the most cherished memories of Pola Cola are those of retired Robertson's employees. From round-the-clock available free pop to the bottling of cider and fizzy pops by hand, working there placed staff in prime position to enjoy one of Dundee's tastiest chapters.

There's even a story of the glass bottles being removed - empties had to be broken and loaded up to the coup.

And even though there is no direct connection, the mention of polar bears does bring to mind one of Dundee's most zany tales: the 1878 Great Escape of Bruin, a polar bear, on the High Street - another chilly mystery to be added to the city's records.

Pola Cola might be lost, but not forgotten, as it lives on in the memories of those who remembered it from childhood.

In a time when drinks were bottled locally down the street, and advertising was proudly painted on the sides of buildings, Dundee had its own cola heritage - one that survived despite international giants.

A reminder that local flavour was dominant before the multinational brand descended. And in Dundee, local flavour was Pola Cola.

Sources

Dextora and Pola Cola Ads via Retro Dundee