Jones Soda creates a pop culture.

Publication: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)

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COPYRIGHT 2004 South Florida Sun-Sentinal

Byline: Dave Joseph

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The coolest soda company in the world does not have a celebrity spokesperson. No theme song, billion-dollar marketing budget or shiny new commercials unveiled during the Super Bowl.

Peter van Stolk can breathe a sigh of relief.

When he started Jones Soda in 1996, van Stolk wanted to create a soda that would become a fashion accessory for his audience; a soda his target market could be passionate about, would help define a lifestyle and would press the boundaries of flavor.

Van Stolk has not only succeeded in stamping Jones Soda as a fashion statement, but he has created a company with a very big heart. "A beverage should be fun," van Stolk said recently from his office in Seattle.

And Jones is managing to do that in a number of ways:

_Flavored sodas and juices including Turkey and Gravy, Chocolate Fudge, Blue Bubblegum, D'Peach Mode and Strawberry Manilow.

_Allowing consumers to order customized 12-packs of Jones by scanning their photo through the Web, cropping and creating their own label.

_Starting an independent music site that allows unsigned bands performing original material to have their music...

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