About Us
From Dundee’s Sweet Legacy to Modern Hydration
The Okhai brothers, Bashir, Ibrahim and Aziz, in their Wester Gourdie factory, Dundee, Scotland — 1984 (Photo by kind permission of DC Thomson & Co Ltd)
A Family Built on Making Things
ION8’s story starts long before water bottles ever came into view. It began in Dundee, Scotland, when three brothers—Ibrahim, Bashir, and Aziz Okhai—left Malawi and laid the roots of a family business that made things, not just sold them. Whether it was the wrapping for sweets, the kettles of Keiller’s marmalade, or the fizz inside Meri Mate drinks, our family didn’t just pack or label — we produced, built, and shipped it all.
Princess Diana welcomed by the Okhai family during her visit to Keiller’s Factory in Dundee — her first visit to the city in September 1983
The Bold Fizz of Meri Mate
In the 1980s, Meri Mate’s fruity fizz became a beloved staple in Dundee. You might remember those iconic fizzy drink tubes—orange, cola, and a little explosion if you squeezed them just right. It wasn’t just about nostalgia — producing Meri Mate meant making the bottles, mixing the recipes, and fueling local culture across the UK.
A batch of soft drinks ready to leave the Meri-Mate fizzy drinks factory. December 15 1983.Image: DC Thomson.
From Factory Floor to Future Thinking
Yusuf Okhai, son of Ibrahim, didn’t grow up in an office — he grew up on the factory floor. As a technician, he learned the mechanics, the pressure, and the rhythm of real manufacturing. That hands-on experience shaped what came next.
ION8: A New Chapter in Hydration
Yusuf took those roots and reimagined them — founding ION8, a family-run brand built around innovation and real-life practicality. Leakproof lids. One-touch open. BPA-free, reusable materials. And bottles that you’ll want to carry every day — whether you’re in the UK or anywhere in the world.
Yusuf Okhai, founder of ION8, pictured in his home city of Dundee, Scotland
ION8 has grown from a local idea to a global brand, now sold in over 60 countries. We’ve been honoured with both the Queen’s Award and King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade — but we’re still proudly based in Dundee.
Holding a Piece of Dundee History
So whether you’re sipping from our latest sport collab, a triple-insulated flask, or a personalised bottle, you’re holding more than hydration tech. You’re holding a legacy of Dundee manufacturing, proudly updated for the modern world.
The Princess of Wales receiving posies from Talkeen and Aeyesha Okhai at Keiller’s Factory, Dundee
