History

The Wests brand began back in 1876, the same year another local family, the Speight’s, began their brewing business. English born Tom West opened a grocery store in Maclaggan Street which he ran with his wife Elizabeth and later his two sons. From the back of this shop came the origins of Wests Cordials as Tom moved into the production of brightly coloured cordials in hand-crafted bottles. These drinks proved popular with the early settlers and enabled Tom to expand further.

As the numbers of taverns and pubs began to increase Wests saw an opportunity and became the first manufacturers of hop and ginger beer in Dunedin in 1906. Eight years later in 1914 a purpose-built factory was constructed on the corner of Bay View Road and Moreau St in St Kilda, Dunedin, where Wests still operates today.

 

Now   Wests continues to manufacture a wide range of products, some of them based on original recipes and unique flavours like Pineapple and Pear, Hot Lemon and the very popular Cola and Raspberry. Not many know that Wests also produce an array of milkshake flavours, syrups and soda syrups (suitable for use with soda-stream type machines). Over the last few years new products have been added to broaden the appeal including slushy syrups, water and sugar-free carbonated soft drinks. Wests offers the largest flavour range of sugar-free soft drinks of any company in New Zealand. Wests also offers sugar-free cordials, sugar-free soda syrups and sugar-free milkshake syrups at the same price as the regular versions. A growing product area is providing cordials and post mix syrups for hotels, catering firms, clubs and restaurants. The most recent addition of the Wests' product range is a smooth and pleasant energy drink - Redzenergy with more 'kick' than other energy drinks. Offered in a convenient 350ml bottle with a distinctive black label displays a red 'Z' and is competitively priced.Visit our products page to view the complete range. Wests products are available from all good supermarkets and dairies throughout the South Island and recently also the North Island. You may also purchase Wests products as well as a large range of alcoholic beverages directly from our factory shopping mall situated at 135 Bay View Road, St Kilda, Dunedin. Or take advantage of our Door-to-Door delivery service based on the Wests factory shop prices plus a delivery fee (see door-2-door price list). Click here to become a Wests Door-2-Door customer.