CL Family Spotlight: Norka Sparkling Beverages

It's always so inspiring to see worthy companies and products survive through history - the folks at NORKA sparkling beverages are a testament to that. NORKA began in the 1920's when sparkling beverages became more popular due to prohibition. We got to chat with founder and president, Michael Considine, about re-opening the beverage company!  

Q: What's the story behind your business, and how did you get started? A: NORKA, which is Akron spelled backwards, dates back to 1924 in Akron, Ohio when Jacob Paquin founded the company during Prohibition. Their hand-crafted soft drinks were a hometown favorite with Akronites until 1962 when production ceased. 53 years later, we revived the iconic brand and relaunched with the same original great taste. The original flavors include Root Beer, Orange, Ginger Ale, and the signature Cherry-Strawberry.  

Q: What makes your products unique? A:  Our NORKA Sparkling Beverages are made with Pure Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors, and are both Caffeine and Gluten Free! We don't use any high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavorings, which we think makes NORKA simply taste better!  

Q: What do you like about being part of the Celebrate Local family? A: We love being part of the Celebrate Local family because it represents everything that’s great about Ohio! We share the same Ohio pride that comes with supporting local businesses and communities. With the CL family you get to see firsthand all the hard work and dedication that goes into making small businesses work throughout the area.  We are definitely proud to be part of this incredible family and always support local, shop local, and Celebrate Local Ohio!!

Check NORKA out at our Celebrate Local stores or learn more on their website!