Hundreds of people queued up to get their hands on the newly relaunched Moray Cup this morning as it returned after a seven year hiatus.
The much-loved red “fruit flavour” fizzy juice has been produced as a “limited edition” for cash and carry wholesaler Deveron Direct, which will stock it “exclusively”.
Described as a “legend of the north”, it was originally made by Macduff-based Sangs and latterly Cott Macduff.
The business was bought out in 2018 by Refresco, the company which is now making the new product.
Excited customers were in line from around 7am this morning at Deveron Direct’s Macduff warehouse as they excitedly waited to get their hands on the north-east staple.
It went on sale at 9am.
Moray Cup fans travel from around the north-east
One of those was Fraserburgh man Neil Shirron, who queued from 7.30am and came away with three cases of 12 bottles, costing £14.99 a pack.
He said he was there for reasons of “nostalgia” and remembers that while growing up in Portlethen he would get Moray Cup in Aberdeen.
“I’m hoping it’s exactly the same and I don’t think it’ll be much different to be honest,” he added.
John Wilson and his wife travelled along the Buchan coast from Peterhead to nab some of the drink, which comes in 500ml bottles.
He has “fond memories” of Moray Cup and hopes it comes back on a permanent basis.
He added that his plan for the evening is to “try it with a wee mixer”.
Police called to Moray Cup launch
Things got so hectic at the launch that police had to come due to the large volumes of cars in the area.
Possibly the youngest customer at the relaunch was 16-week old Brodie Swan, who was there with his mum Alys.
Brodie’s dad Angus, a teacher at Turriff Primary School, asked his wife if she could go and get some for him.
Alys said to her son: “Daddy will be chuffed.”
The full-time mum joked: “My husband would never really forgive me if I hadn’t managed to get it.”
Alys said she was “buzzing” that it is back and cannot wait to taste.
She said: “It’s an iconic drink, everyone remembers it from their childhood. I didn’t think they’d never bring it back.”
As well as the general public buying the famous Banffshire drink for themselves, Laura Kurteshi who owns St Modans Fish and Chips in Peterhead was second in line to get stock in for her business.
“We know it’s going to be like Prime, with people going crazy for it,” she told The P&J.
Last night she launched a competition on the chipper’s Facebook page, in which three lucky winners will take a bottle home with them.
Laura said: “We’ve already had phone calls and private messages to the page asking for people to reserve bottles”
The man who brought Moray Cup back to shelves ‘overwhelmed’
Deveron Direct director Des Cheyne said they have been “overwhelmed” at the public’s response and that there is “no question” it was the company’s busiest ever Friday morning.
“We knew there would be a good response, but I suppose we are overwhelmed at the response there’s been,” he said.
Explaining why Deveron Direct relaunched the iconic Moray Cup, Mr Cheyne added: “There was something missing in the local area and there’d been a campaign put out there through social media. We put our heads together and asked if we could work in conjunction with Refresco.”
Will more be made?
“As long as the fizz doesn’t go out of it,” the director quipped.
We’re not sure exactly what that means, but we hope those who snapped up the iconic drink today enjoy for now!
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