# fritz-kola

> A chronological documentary of 46 moments spanning 2002–2025.
> Source: https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola · Loreline (loreline.live)

The cult German indie cola. Founded in Hamburg in 2002 by two students with €7,000, the famous two-faces logo and the highest caffeine the law allowed, fritz-kola grew from a phenomenon in Hamburg’s bars into one of Europe’s best-known independent soft drinks — and a fixture of clubs, bars, festivals and parties everywhere.

_last updated 2026-07-16._

## Eras

- **The Founding (2002, Hamburg)** — In 2002 two Hamburg students, Mirco Wolf Wiegert and Lorenz Hampl, started fritz-kola with about €7,000, mixing the first batches and selling crates out of a car to the bars of their home city. They wanted a cola with more caffeine, less compromise and no big corporation behind it.
- **The Look & The Ethos** — Two black-and-white faces, a stark minimalist label, returnable glass bottles, and provocative, witty poster campaigns — fritz-kola built an identity that was deliberately the opposite of the global cola giants, leaning into independence, design and a high-caffeine kick.
- **The Range** — Beyond the flagship kola came fritz-limo (lemonade, orange, rhubarb, melon), fritz-spritz, the mischung (kola-lemon), and sugar-free and "super zero" variants — a whole range built on the same independent recipe-first philosophy.
- **The Rise across Europe** — From the bars of Hamburg, fritz-kola spread across Germany and into the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, France, the UK and beyond — carried by word of mouth, gastronomy and a refusal to behave like a normal soft-drink company.
- **At the Party — Clubs, Bars & Festivals** — fritz-kola became the unofficial fuel of the European nightlife and festival scene — the bottle on the bar, the mixer in the long drink, the fridge at the club, the sponsor at the festival, the late-night caffeine of a generation.
- **Today & The Brand** — Two decades on, fritz-kola is a major independent brand with a sustainability streak ("Pfand gehört daneben"), bold campaigns, and a founder who still frames it as a mission rather than just a drink.

## Timeline

### 2002
- **2002** — fritz-kola is founded (2002). Mirco Wolf Wiegert and Lorenz Hampl, students in Hamburg, launch fritz-kola with around €7,000 — mixing early batches and delivering crates to bars themselves. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/9d590a9d-69f9-4af1-a2b1-0aa031e7bfbb) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MPKebolTaI
### 2003
- **2003** — The founders’ mission. Mirco Wolf Wiegert on building fritz-kola from nothing — a story of stubborn independence and treating a cola company as a training ground for something bigger. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/b188d709-75db-4d06-9158-e0cd03988298) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vECxqn8c__E
### 2005
- **2005** — Maximum caffeine. fritz-kola launched with the highest caffeine content German law allowed (25 mg/100 ml) — "viel Koffein" became a core part of its identity and its late-night appeal. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/af6a49e4-1fed-43b3-abc0-f914842df03c) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2K3Ctg--4
### 2006
- **2006** — fritz-limo & the range. fritz expanded into fritz-limo (lemonade, orange, rhubarb, melon), the kola-lemon mischung, and later spritz and sugar-free lines — all on the same recipe-first philosophy. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/4bea9aef-02ab-4862-a0fb-3c21ee11e5f1) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritz-kola-06.jpg
### 2007
- **2007** — fritz-mischmasch — kola & orange. Mischmasch Kola-Orangen-Limonade (16870302373).jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/5b527d7d-0e86-471f-9e43-7cf674ec4c05) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The%20%22mischmasch%22%20%E2%80%94%20kola%20mixed%20with%20orange%20lemonade%20%E2%80%94%20one%20of%20the%20playful%20range%20extensions.
### 2008
- **2008** — The campaigns. Witty, provocative, design-led poster and film campaigns — often poking at the big cola corporations — built fritz-kola a cult following. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/ac1ecdb7-04e4-42f3-9cec-44b1c6cff3b6) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZhvBaVEsR0
### 2009
- **2009** — The minimalist label. Stark black-and-white typography and a deliberately un-corporate look set fritz-kola apart on every shelf and bar. The subject dates from 2004; this photograph was taken in 2009. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/240eeaad-7e4d-4b96-85cc-4c23f32b1a07) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritz-kola-04.jpg
### 2010
- **2010** — Born of the Hamburg nightlife. fritz-kola’s home was the bar and club scene of Hamburg — the Kiez, the Reeperbahn, the independent venues where it first caught on. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/220b8030-2051-472f-9508-5ef29e18c612) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6NQJvfFV74
- **2010** — The two faces. The logo — two stylised black-and-white portraits of the founders — became one of the most recognisable indie-brand marks in Germany. The subject dates from 2002; this photograph was taken in 2010. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/53d56210-bb64-4176-8f6b-f23fa9ef0fe9) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritz-kola-03.jpg
- **2010** — The indie-drink wave. fritz-kola rode and helped define a wave of independent German drinks — alongside Club-Mate — that conquered the bar, café and hacker/maker scenes across Europe. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/7dabdcc4-38e2-4362-a80c-f2ee31bd32f0) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Club-Mate%20Cola%20German%20-%20Glass%20Bottle%20(15927833865).jpg
- **2010** — fritz-kulturgüter — the wordmark. Fritz-kulturgueter schwarz.png [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f2a4dcf3-1b8b-4575-b2ef-326a10f9590e) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The%20stark%20black%20%22fritz%22%20wordmark%20%2F%20kulturg%C3%BCter%20branding.
### 2012
- **2012** — After hours — Café Lotte. Café Lotte nach Feierabend.JPG [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/c349dff7-5a60-40d6-af24-a2043c983f41) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:fritz-kola%20in%20the%20caf%C3%A9%20and%20bar%20%E2%80%94%20the%20independent%20gastronomy%20that%20carried%20the%20brand.
- **2012** — The bottle on the bar. In clubs and bars across Germany, fritz-kola became the default — straight from the fridge or as the high-caffeine mixer in a late-night long drink. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/d7e15180-6315-4840-bb05-aa69193eddc1) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caf%C3%A9%20Lotte.JPG
### 2013
- **2013** — In the bar — SissiKingKong. SissiKingKong am Tag.jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/2df79385-3f80-40b8-b109-665970d3653d) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A%20bar%20stocked%20with%20fritz%20%E2%80%94%20the%20everyday%20venue%20presence%20that%20built%20the%20cult.
- **2013** — "Öffentlicher Koffeinverkehr". Fritz-kola öffentlicher Koffeinverkehr.jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/554bd1a6-4c8e-46c5-af30-6a062978526c) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A%20typically%20witty%20fritz-kola%20ad%20%E2%80%94%20a%20pun%20on%20%22public%20transport%22%20%2F%20%22public%20caffeine%20traffic%22.
### 2014
- **2014** — Mirco Wolf Wiegert at deGUT (2014). fritz-kola’s co-founder tells the start-up story at the Deutsche Gründer- und Unternehmertage. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/0454f246-5169-4e4a-ac06-647e57359827) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eTkQsVmAr8
- **2014** — Across Europe. From Hamburg the brand spread across Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, France and the UK — carried by gastronomy and word of mouth rather than mass advertising. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/a0d89722-3dae-42c5-9289-7595e38dcc3f) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hamburg%20Harmonie.jpg
- **2014** — fritz-kola bus advertising. Fritz-kola Buswerbung .jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/699ea872-007c-447b-ab6c-c800fe8eb505) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:fritz-kola%E2%80%99s%20out-of-home%20advertising%20%E2%80%94%20bold%2C%20minimalist%2C%20everywhere%20in%20the%20German%20city.
### 2015
- **2015** — At the club — Black End, Dortmund. Black End Dortmund.JPG [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/e700abb2-b410-4051-a8b9-c45e39f944fb) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:fritz-kola%20at%20the%20club%20%E2%80%94%20the%20late-night%20fridge%20and%20the%20high-caffeine%20mixer.
- **2015** — fritz at re:publica & the festival circuit. fritz-kola became a fixture of conferences, festivals and events — here at Berlin’s re:publica — the bottle in everyone’s hand. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f4fa6684-abe7-494e-b9a4-13e836a8699a) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Re-publica%202015%20-%20Tag%203%20(17218751598).jpg
- **2015** — "Pfand gehört daneben" — the ethos. fritz-kola leaned into sustainability and social causes — the "deposit belongs beside the bin" campaign, returnable bottles, and a self-consciously responsible brand stance. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/84cf9921-17c8-4e8a-be27-305fee894aff) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritz-kola%20Kronkorkenfarben.jpg
### 2016
- **2016** — Hackerbrause? Techno-Drink? — the secret of the indie cola. A German TV report on how independent drinks like fritz-kola and Club-Mate became the fuel of the techno, hacker and party scenes. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f10b2082-55a3-4e1d-baab-4b296e33be6d) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6R2cS07ElA
- **2016** — Fritz-Kola-Chef Wiegert (WirtschaftsWoche). A business-press interview on running fritz-kola independently. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f14c1153-a85c-49e5-b69e-2826b556a59b) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILW2ZsTLyUA
- **2016** — Hamburg nightlife — home turf. Hamburg Harmonie.jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/51bfafc7-48e3-4a15-9f1a-eb86787eb219) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:In%20its%20home%20city%E2%80%99s%20venues%2C%20where%20fritz-kola%20first%20caught%20on%20with%20the%20bar%20and%20music%20crowd.
### 2017
- **2017** — Hamburg’s Kultlokale — the venue scene. An NDR documentary on Hamburg’s cult bars and beach spots — the gastronomy world fritz-kola was born into. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/e78269d6-30b1-4f1c-b8ef-a981d32d4658) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBPSokyRGc8
- **2017** — "fritz gegen Goliath". The story of the indie cola taking on the global giants — fritz versus Goliath. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/9958055f-f50f-4119-8c45-2821538e5a33) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjslErOsh-4
- **2017** — fritz-kola at re:publica (2017). -rp17 - Tag 3 (34412522432).jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/c73546ff-faf3-4ca0-b12d-131010a73ae8) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:fritz-kola%20at%20Berlin%E2%80%99s%20re%3Apublica%20festival%20%E2%80%94%20a%20fixture%20of%20the%20conference%20and%20event%20circuit.
### 2018
- **2018** — "mund auf für toleranz" — fritz-kola’s tolerance campaign. fritz-kola’s own campaign celebrating diversity — the brand wearing its values openly. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/809ae316-03fb-4101-84b0-3233e03d0c5d) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU0362Er7rA
- **2018** — fritz-kola sugarfree. Cola sugarfree.jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/282e870d-2cab-47ce-8818-ed2ec83a8fc0) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The%20sugar-free%20variant%20%E2%80%94%20same%20caffeine%2C%20no%20sugar.
- **2018** — Sugar-free & "super zero". The sugar-free and "super zero" variants extended the range while keeping the caffeine kick. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/662fe6d6-bf12-40aa-ad4a-48eab67b184f) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5sXvkDkjb8
- **2018** — Wiegert — "Can you drink the world beautiful?". A Rheinische Post interview with Mirco Wolf Wiegert on purpose, business and the brand’s mission. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f879a3b9-279d-4f20-a6df-d6df29a7cf90) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPnBD_de-ng
- **2018** — David vs Goliath — taking on the big cola. How fritz-kola built a brand from nothing against the multinational soft-drink machine. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/019b5b63-f747-48bb-980e-9ddb03caf79f) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icbKvZUxwtA
### 2019
- **2019** — fritz-session at Open Flair festival. fritz-kola’s own festival sessions — live music with Hi!Spencer at the Open Flair edition. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/8414c400-2a10-44d2-a069-07247f5c5bdc) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq9-7r1Dmco
- **2019** — "Pfand gehört daneben" & Hitzehilfe. fritz-kola’s sustainability and social campaigns — leaving deposit bottles for collectors, heat-help for the homeless. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/a7f2197a-dcf9-4530-b480-dec5ac858b75) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWajawzRyNE
- **2019** — The start-up success of fritz-kola. How two students built one of Europe’s best-known independent soft drinks. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/e5af3736-d9c9-4c4c-89b7-f33636add897) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XUO5aHujRk
- **2019** — fritz-kola Werbespot — "Joker meets Fritz-Kola". A striking fritz-kola advertising film. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/e5fe0f14-79fe-4b70-801e-82a8ab0df7ec) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7siDAPAa4vE
- **2019** — fritz-kola & the music scene. fritz-kola turned up everywhere music happened — sponsoring sessions and concerts like this rooftop set, soundtracking the independent nightlife it belonged to. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f8b276f1-57cd-4dd4-8aac-cd01976aa07a) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxbpVPuLKPw
### 2020
- **2020** — fritz-spritz — "Dare to Drink Different". fritz’s organic spritz line and the brand’s "dare to drink different" ethos. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/f2980712-0af3-4449-8b28-083ff96ef800) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY64DGw0a6M
- **2020** — The founder’s story — in depth. A long-form podcast interview with fritz-kola founder Mirco Wolf Wiegert. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/6429cac1-d790-4d84-a8ea-e3374b5040b0) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spvKTsspUvA
- **2020** — "Fritz gegen Goliath" — the purpose talk. A deeper look at fritz-kola’s purpose-driven, anti-corporate positioning. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/0c952b1f-cb72-43d5-b955-ef07c6837e99) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DKspH76W4w
### 2021
- **2021** — fritz-kola — the marketing. A look at fritz-kola’s distinctive, design-led advertising approach. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/3f569cee-96e6-47b1-a756-7a980be601ee) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgsobkADjeI
- **2021** — How do you make a kola? (with the founder). A light look at the recipe and craft behind fritz-kola, with the founder. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/3e14ec1e-1ff1-4dd1-89b6-74359b29958e) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc7BioT6eMI
- **2021** — fritz-spritz — stop-motion. A playful stop-motion film for the bio-rhabarberschorle. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/a6ba8e11-649a-4b90-bf03-d9e0b212ef5c) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6aHI3iTShM
### 2022
- **2022** — Twenty years of fritz-kola. Two decades on, fritz-kola is one of Europe’s biggest independent soft-drink brands — still privately held, still leaning on design, caffeine and an anti-corporate story. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/97e7fd05-00cd-409d-b55a-fcfa2399f21b) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hart%20aber%20fair%20-%202026-02-23-8868.jpg
### 2024
- **2024** — fritz-kola at the Chaos Communication Congress. 38C3 Sitzgelegenheiten.jpg [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/98016dd8-9d2d-4291-bc73-0d1737c3f83c) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:fritz%20crates%20as%20seating%20at%2038C3%20%E2%80%94%20the%20drink%20of%20the%20hacker%2Fmaker%20congress%20scene.
### 2025
- **2025** — The first bottles. The early fritz-kola bottle — glass, returnable, with the stark two-faces label that would become instantly recognisable. The subject dates from 2003; this photograph was taken in 2025. [scene](https://loreline.live/loreline/fritz-kola/scene/dc21e9f3-9b2f-48e4-8dc4-5eba04f9c65a) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fritz%20Cola%20bottle.jpg

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46 moments · Attribution: Loreline (loreline.live) · Public contributions welcome.