ABOUT US
The History, Our Founder
Our story starts nearly a century ago — long before POPSMITH was a brand, and long before craft soda was even a category.
In the 1930s, my grandfather was a truck driver for a small soda company, the Boylan Bottling Co., hauling kegs of birch beer through the streets of Paterson, New Jersey, and the surrounding suburbs. Eventually, he bought the company — a true one-man operation. His only product? Kegs of a bold and flavorful birch beer, delivered to local bars, hot dog stands, banquet halls, and town picnics.
He didn’t come from money and wasn’t educated beyond the seventh-grade, but he had an unmatched work ethic. He took care of his customers seven days a week. He was a local legend — everyone recognized him. He couldn’t walk into a tavern without someone buying him a drink.
As he got older, he relied on me to help. Every day after high school, he’d pick me up and take me to the plant, where I’d spend my afternoons sanitizing and filling those same kegs. Eventually, I made my way up to the mixing room, learning formulation and batching for the next day. I didn’t know it then, but those years shaped everything that came after.
After graduating high school, I took over the company full-time. It was just me at first, but I began growing the business — expanding from kegs into fountain soda. In 1986, my brother Mark Fiorina, joined me as a partner after graduating college. Together, we transformed Boylan into a full-fledged craft soda company — introducing 12 oz. glass bottles and expanding distribution nationally through a growing network of independent beverage wholesalers.
Mark, a professional beverage formulator, developed every flavor we launched (except the original 100+ year-old birch beer recipe), and his code became our foundation: use thick glass bottles, real cane sugar, natural flavors — and never cut corners on ingredients.
While we’re no longer involved with Boylan, that same commitment to quality defines everything we do at POPSMITH today.
POPSMITH is the next chapter in that journey — a tribute to the past, and a push into the future. A place where our pride and perfection come together, one bottle at a time.
— Ronald C. Fiorina
Founder, POPSMITH SODAWATER
Boylan Bottling Co. is a trademark of its respective owner. POPSMITH SODAWATER is an independent company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Boylan Bottling Co. References to Boylan are made solely in connection with the founders’ historical involvement with the company.
OUR NAME
The name POPSMITH represents our dedication to true craftsmanship. The "SMITH" is inspired by the tradition of artisans—like blacksmiths or wordsmiths—masters of their craft who transform simple, raw materials into something refined, powerful, and enduring. The "POP"? That’s the burst of flavor and effervescence we meticulously craft into every bottle, born from this dedication.
At POPSMITH, we bring this same spirit of artisanship to the beverages we create, drawing on 50 years of experience in the art and science of beverage development. During this time, we've mastered over 100 essential oils, learning to balance them with complementary flavors to achieve the perfect taste.
We are perfectionists by nature. We’ll always take the longer, more challenging path if it leads to a better-tasting, more satisfying drink. Whether we’re crafting a flavor-forward soda for pure enjoyment or a lighter option with fewer calories and functional benefits, we do it with the skill, care, and innovative spirit of the great SMITHS before us.
We put the time into every bottle™
POPSMITH 2026
