Camp Coffee's Slogans & Taglines

Camp Coffee is a concentrated coffee-flavoured syrup first produced in 1876 by R. Paterson & Sons Ltd. at their plant on Charlotte Street, Glasgow. Created by Campbell Paterson, it was originally developed at the request of the Gordon Highlanders regiment as a convenient coffee substitute for military campaigns in India, blending water, sugar, coffee essence, and chicory. The brand's iconic label has undergone significant evolution, from the original 1876 design depicting a Scottish soldier served by a Sikh figure, through a mid-20th century revision, to the 2006 redesign portraying both figures as equals sharing a cup together. The long-standing slogan Ready Aye Ready—meaning "ready always ready"—has adorned the label for nearly 150 years, reflecting the drink's instant preparation promise. In 1974, the business merged with Jenks Brothers to form Paterson Jenks, before acquisition by McCormick & Company in 1984. Today, Camp Coffee remains a nostalgic British pantry staple, valued both as a quick hot beverage and a beloved baking ingredient for cakes and desserts.