Chris,
You've got the priority backwards on the Mainstream
"Big Red" The generic and supermarket versions are take-offs on the immensely popular Southern Soda "
Big Red". It tastes like Bubble-Gum Soda to me, not a favorite now, but for awhile some years back it was my favorite drink-of-choice!!
My secretary a the college here in SoIndiana used to come to work every day with a Big-Gulp of Fountain
Big Red from the local convenience store!!
When I first returned to SoCal back in 1986 I used the 'Soda Wars' as a study lesson in my Economics classes. I would purchase some
Big Red at the local supermarket..2 liters were all they stocked.. and offer samples of the soda to students who had never ventured beyond
Coke or
Pepsi. I had photos of
Big Red Vending Machines and video of
Big Red commercials that introduced the soda to classes as a regional competitor in the market share battle. Later (in the early 90's we started to find the
Big Red individual bottles (16-20 oz) in the "discount tubs and coolers" of the
ARCO AM/PM's and other convenience store chains. It tends to compete with the
Dad's and
A&W Root Beers and
Sunkist orange...and of course the
FAYGO and
SHASTA Western Brands.
I agree the Vanilla Version (in all soda brands that I have tried) just doesn't make a good drink. I don't care for Vanilla
Coke or
Pepsi either!
Thanks for stirring up some memories for me!
<message edited by Al-The Mayor-Bowen on Wed, 01/7/09 11:36 AM>