The Nobriga family has begun laying the groundwork for an operational transition to the fourth generation for Maui Soda & Ice Works, and in the process has learned that the company is at least four years older than originally thought.

Company Vice President Michael Nobriga learned while planning the future of the family business that the company’s roots go back to 1884 to original owners Gibbens & Macauley. The family had believed that the company was started in 1888 by Gilbert H. French.

The family found a reference in the book “Bottles of Old Hawa’i” of an 8-inch rounded-bottom, greenish-aqua-colored bottle labeled “Maui Soda Works” with the initials of the original owners of the company, Gibbens & Macauley.

The new information surprised Nobriga, who had previously done research on the company history.

“I only focused on the French family that went back to 1888,” he said in a news release. “It never occurred to anyone that the company existed before French.”

The family has not been able to find any more information on Gibbens & Macauley.

Michael Nobriga’s grandfather Manuel began working at the company in 1922, and the family bought the company in 1946. The family currently is looking to hand over the company that grossed $24 million last year to the fourth generation. Among the fourth-generation family members learning the business are Buddy James Nobriga, currently freezer products supervisor, and Ethan Kim, customer care equipment technician.

The company began as an ice and refrigeration company, adding soft drink distribution in the 1920s with Coca-Cola products bottled in Wailuku from 1924-88. Ice cream production began in 1932, and the Roselani premium line was introduced in 1972.

The company currently has three divisions — ready-to drink, food service beverage products and frozen products, which include Roselani, according to the company website. It has 76 employees on Maui and Lanai.

The strategic planning project began because the third generation is aging, the company said. As part of the planning, a new logo was created by Maui-based Sae Design to project “a forward-thinking corporate identity.” Sae Design had worked with Maui Soda before on the logo and packaging for Roselani.

“We asked them to look at the last production bottle we did for Maui Soda in 1988,” said Nobriga. “We wanted them to incorporate and update that identity. We wanted to embody our tradition and our unique Hawaiian heritage and have something that stands out as ‘family,’ is inviting, appealing, friendly and contemporary. We’re very happy with the result.”

The logo will be used on letterheads, digital communication materials and T-shirts, said the company. Eventually, the logo will appear on uniforms and fleet vehicles.

Company President Catherine Nobriga Kim noted the changing tastes of consumers of soft drinks with trends toward less sugar and smaller portions. Coca-Cola has nontraditional lines including “zero calorie,” sparkling water and 7.5-ounce minicans. Maui Soda is one of only 20 independent distributors of Coca-Cola products in the nation.

Coffee drinks and cold-pressed teas are another growing segment, she said.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.