Soda Citron passes one million cans and plans German launch

Austrian canned lemon drink Soda Citron has passed one million cans sold this year, and its founders plan to enter the German market next year, ORF reports.

Lukas Edenhauser and Samuel Geisler founded the company in April 2024 in Ebbs, in the Kufstein district. The drink is now sold in many Austrian supermarkets and petrol stations. Edenhauser said this year’s hot weather had helped sales.

Soda Citron contains 10 percent organic lemon juice, spring water and carbon dioxide. The lemons come from Europe, mostly Italy, Spain or Portugal. Edenhauser said the taste can vary slightly between batches because the fruit’s sugar content depends on how much sunshine the lemons receive.

The drink has also found a following among clubs, particularly sports clubs, because it contains no added sugar and no alcohol, Edenhauser said.

Production began in Tirol, where the founders handled and packed the cans themselves. It has since moved to Frankenmarkt in Upper Austria.

The company has received enquiries from countries including Iceland and Dubai, but has so far held off on shipping because transport and customs costs can exceed the product’s price.

Germany is a more immediate prospect, particularly southern Germany, where Geisler said many holidaymakers already know the drink from Austria. The German deposit system presents a challenge: each can currently has to be labelled by hand with a deposit symbol. The founders plan a separate production run for Germany next year.