Iconic South Australian beverage brand Halls is back in business, with production of classic soft drinks like Halls Lemonade, Lemon Twist and Fruita now underway in Willunga.

The much-loved brand is expected to be back on shop shelves in coming months.

Halls soft drinks are now under production at the former MOJO Kombucha production facility at Willunga, which closed last year when Coca Cola announced it was exiting the Kombucha market.

The state government is supporting the return of Halls with a $500,000 grant from the Thriving Regions Fund for the Willunga bottling facility.

The manufacturer has already re-engaged five former staff and has plans to grow. 

Mawson MP Leon Bignell says the local region is known around the world as a premium producer of food and beverages.

“Our area has it all, from the top quality Fleurieu Milk products, to more than 100 premium red and white wine producers and more than a dozen brewers and distillers.

And now, with Halls coming to Willunga, we have the Lemon Twist to add to the local gin, lemonade to go with a local stout and Fruita which is perfect on its own any time of the day.”

Halls has a rich history in South Australia, with the brand founded in 1849 by George Hall at a site in Marryatville.

His sons joined the company in 1869 and they moved to a larger premises in Norwood in east Adelaide in 1872. 

A hundred years later, the Halls brand was bought by Coca Cola, which continued to produce the drinks at its Thebarton bottling plant until the brand was discontinued in 2000.

The new Halls drinks will be produced in classic glass bottles, with 330mL already in production and 1 litre varieties soon to begin on the bottling line.

South Australian Bottling Company CEO Cameron Ballard says the

level of public interest and support surrounding the comeback of Halls Soft Drinks has been quite unbelievable, and extremely humbling.

“We are beyond excited to now be in production and nearing the day that South Australians can finally enjoy Halls once again.

“We are immensely grateful for the contribution pledged through Thriving Regions Fund.

“It will be instrumental in fast tracking our growth plans, and hiring more local people to help achieve these goals.”