Still fizzling
with attitude
Sweden’s first cola was never meant to play by the rules. Born out of rebellion in 1953, Cuba Cola beat the global giants to market and hearts of the Swedish people. Seventy years later, it was time to bring back the legend with a look that matches its spirit.
Project
Cuba Cola
Client
Saturnus
Assignment
Visual Identity
Packaging Design
Packaging Implementation
The Cola before Coca
In the summer of 1953, Cuba Cola hit Swedish shelves—just as Sweden lifted its ban on soft drinks containing caffeine and phosphoric acid. Produced in Malmö by Saturnus, Cuba Cola became Sweden’s very first cola, beating Coca-Cola to market by three full months. With its bold red-and-blue label and proudly local attitude, it became an instant classic.
For decades, Cuba Cola stayed under the radar, surviving more on nostalgia than presence. With fading recognition and inconsistent branding, it was time for a revival. Neumeister was brought in to update the packaging and identity - without losing what made Cuba Cola iconic in the first place.
Before
After
A bold take on tradition
The new design dares to tinker with the legacy. With bottomless depths of blackness and increased contrasts, we strengthen the uplifting feeling of the brand and show that Cuba Cola is still going strong with heavy brand recognition—while speaking to a new generation of individualists.
