In October 1880 Mr. E.W. Mills, a prominent businessman, purchased the bankrupt estates of G.A. and W.F. Strike (Strike Bros.) and formed a new company called G. A. Strike & Co. Mills kept George Strike on to manage this business.

Trading commenced at the Argyle Street factory in 1880 and the business operated as G.A. Strike & Co. until 1883, even though Charles Fairlie bought into the company in 1881.

In July 1882, G.A. Strike & Co. purchased the Nelson aerated water company owed by Mr. G. Dixon and Mr. Blower. This was the same business that originally belonged to Samuel Wadman of Nelson and sold to J. Harley by George Strike's father, John some six years earlier.

Alfred Lewis shifted from Wellington to manage this Nelson branch of G. A. Strike & Co., while George Strike remained in Wellington managing the Wellington branch. Lewis stayed in Nelson until the branch was sold in 1883 to James Hamilton. Lewis then moved on to Dunedin and with a restructure, the Wellington branch became Strike & Fairlie.

G.A. Strike & Co. made use of two different 10oz green Codd bottles as well as the very desirable 6oz cobalt blue Codd. They are known to have used two trademarks. G.A. Strike applied to make use of its name as a registered trademark on 24th January 1882. They also made use of the Union Jack flag and they advertised themselves as:

The sole proprietors of Flag Brand Cordials.