Editing Virgin Cola (section)

== History ==
Virgin Cola was set up during the early 1990s in conjunction with [[Cott]], an [[United States|American]]-[[Canada|Canadian]] company that specialises in bottling own-label drinks. Cott was looking for a major international brand that could have worldwide appeal. [[Virgin Group]] founder, [[Richard Branson]] was looking to widen the Virgin name and to rival the [[Coca-Cola]] and [[Pepsi]] brands.

Virgin Cola began to hit international shores within its first year. The UK first served the drink on [[Virgin Atlantic]] flights, on-board shops on [[Virgin CrossCountry|Virgin Trains]] and also at [[Virgin Cinemas]].  The [[Gulliver's Kingdom]] chain of theme parks in the UK also sold post-mix Virgin Cola. This led Virgin Cola to agree a distribution deal with British supermarket retailer [[Tesco]] in 1994.<ref name=independent161094>{{cite news|last=Hosking |first=Patrick |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4681573.html |title=Virgin deputy shuns new cola |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=16 October 1994 |access-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513033835/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4681573.html |archive-date=13 May 2013 }}</ref>

A promotional blimp can be seen saving a woman’s life on the show ''[[Baywatch]]'', in the episode “The Runaways”, first aired in the U.S. on May 20, 1995. The episode features Richard Branson heavily.

From 1996, the 500ml bottles were marketed as "The Pammy", as their curves were designed to resemble [[Pamela Anderson]] who was at the height of her popularity in the UK at the time.<ref name=independent160296>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=Genevieve|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4766439.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513021828/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4766439.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2013|title=Mine's a Coke - no, make that a Pammy|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=16 February 1996|access-date=27 November 2012}} {{subscription required }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A553187 |title=h2g2 - Cola Drinks |publisher=BBC |access-date=2 November 2010}}</ref> It went on to be launched in France, Belgium and South Africa.<ref name=wp260398>{{cite news|last=Mayer|first=Caroline E.|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-639280.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513023905/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-639280.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2013|title=Branson Throws The Cola Biz a Curve; Virgin's CEO Plans U.S. Launch for 'Pammy'|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=26 March 1998|access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref>

In 1998, Branson attended the USA launch of Virgin Cola driving a [[T-54/T-55|T-54/55 tank]] into [[New York City]]'s [[Times Square]].<ref name=pt130598>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10848FA54412E772.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513035233/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10848FA54412E772.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2013|title=VIRGIN COLA TAKES AIM AT COCA-COLA'S SOFT DRINK STRANGLEHOLD|newspaper=[[Post-Tribune (Indiana newspaper)|Post-Tribune]]|date=13 May 1998|access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=wt290898>{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Eric|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-56762413|title=Virgin Cola faces uphill fight: Britain's new No. 3 gears for area push|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|date=29 August 1998|access-date=}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref> It subsequently agreed distribution channels with US retailers such as [[Target Corporation|Target]].<ref name=wt290898/> Virgin Drinks USA, the company dealing in Virgin Cola's US market, closed in April 2001, having managed to establish just a 0.5% share of the market by volume.<ref name=mw270701>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-78358297.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513111839/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-78358297.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2013|title=Will global markets embrace Virgin?|newspaper=[[Marketing Week]]|date=27 July 2001|access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref>

A bottle of Virgin Cola can be seen on the coffee table in [[Monica Geller|Monica]] and [[Rachel Green|Rachel]]'s apartment in the ''[[Friends]]'' episode "[[The One with Joey's Bag]]" that first aired in the U.S. on 4 February 1999. Branson had previously appeared in an episode and was said to be a fan of the show. A can of Virgin Cola appears in ''[[Ally McBeal]]'' in the title character's refrigerator in the episode "Love Unlimited", first aired on 18 January 1999. In season 4 episode 10 of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' ("The Hush"), [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]] is seen drinking a can of Virgin Cola in a scene with [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]].

In 2002, a vanilla cola called Virgin Vanilla was launched in the UK, ahead of the launch of a similar product from rival Coca-Cola.<ref name=mw121202>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96134992.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513023919/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96134992.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2013|title=Virgin Cola trumps Coca-Cola with first UK launch of vanilla variant. (News).(Virgin Cola to introduce Virgin Vanilla soft drink in United Kingdom)(Brief Article)|newspaper=[[Marketing Week]]|date=12 December 2002|access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref> In 2004, it was announced that Virgin Vanilla would be discontinued in order to focus on the teenage market.<ref name=mw180304>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114819845.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513020345/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114819845.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2013|title=Virgin Cola relaunch to target teen market.(News)(Brief Article)|newspaper=[[Marketing Week]]|date=18 March 2004|access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref>