Milo (malt and cocoa drink)
Milo (bebida de malta y cacao)
- Date
- 1934 · confidence high
- Place
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Credited to
- Thomas Mayne, Nestlé Australia
- Field
- Life & health
What it is
A powdered malt, milk and cocoa drink developed by Thomas Mayne for Nestlé Australia in the midst of the Great Depression, aiming to give children a nutritious, cheap food. It was launched in 1934 and is now consumed across Asia and Africa.
The drink was presented at the 1934 Sydney Royal Easter Show; the name comes from the athlete Milo of Croton. The malt and cocoa processing was developed at the Smithtown factory, New South Wales.
What it led to
- a branded energy drink in Australian homes and schools
- expansion to Malaysia, Nigeria, Ghana and other countries
- sports sponsorship and school nutrition programmes