Attention to all lemonade stand operators: In the upcoming season, you will need to use fresh ingredients for your beverages. Minute Maid has decided to discontinue its range of frozen juices due to changing consumer preferences and decreasing demand. This move marks the end of an era as Minute Maid was one of the last companies offering concentrated frozen juice products in Canada.
The frozen canned products being phased out by April include orange juice, lemonade, Fruitopia fruit punch, and Five Alive juice blend, as confirmed by a spokesperson from Coca-Cola, the parent company of Minute Maid. This decision to withdraw from the frozen juice market in both Canada and the U.S. aligns with the company’s strategy to focus on products that better align with customer preferences.
Notably, Lassonde, a Canadian juice company known for brands like Oasis, Kiju, and Rougemont, also exited the frozen concentrate juice category last year due to declining demand. The disappearance of both major and store brands from the market signals a significant shift in consumer behavior, according to marketing expert Zhe Zhang.
The decline in frozen juice consumption can be attributed to various factors such as changing consumer tastes, increased awareness of sugar content, and the growing popularity of functional beverages like kombucha and prebiotic sodas. While other beverage categories have seen innovation, frozen juice products have remained stagnant, contributing to their decreasing appeal in the market.
As frozen juice products disappear from shelves, it creates an opportunity for smaller Canadian companies to enter the market and introduce new offerings. Despite the nostalgic value some consumers associate with frozen juice, the overall trend indicates a shift away from these traditional products towards more innovative and health-conscious beverage options.
