Credited to being the first aerated soft drink in Andhra Pradesh, ‘A.R. Raju Tonics’ or Artos, came into being when Ramachandra Raju bought a soda machine from British collectorate. Though initially people were sceptical of the drink, it eventually caught on with them, and in 1919, it was officially declared as a soft drink, with sugars, gas and flavours being imported from Europe. After more than a century, Artos is still strong in the Andhra Pradesh market.
ARTOS Soft Drinks Limited (ARTOS) was the most popular and first aerated home-grown soft drink brand in and around Andhra Pradesh, India. The company, which was founded in 1919 by the Raju brothers, had been in operation for more than 100 years and offered strong competition to global giants. ARTOS began its marketing and production in the East Godavari District’s small town called Ramachandrapuram. The brand’s growth journey involved a gripping story of a 100-year-old local soft drink company that had been giving the multinationals such as Coca Cola and Pepsi, a run for their money.
