Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid brand is phasing out its frozen juice products, including orange juice, lemonade, Fruitopia fruit punch, and Five Alive juice blend by April. The decision to discontinue these items in Canada and the U.S. comes as consumer preferences shift towards other beverage options. Lassonde, a Canadian juice company, also exited the frozen concentrated juice market last year due to declining demand.
The trend of major juice producers leaving the frozen juice segment may lead to a scarcity of frozen concentrated juice products in Canada. This shift indicates a significant drop in market demand, according to marketing expert Zhe Zhang from Western University’s Ivey Business School.
Consumer behavior has changed over the years, with a preference for healthier and more innovative beverage options like prebiotic sodas and functional drinks. Frozen juice concentrate, a product introduced during World War II and popularized in the 1940s, has seen a decline in consumer interest. As Canadians consume more tap water and seek healthier alternatives, the frozen juice category has struggled to compete.
The discontinuation of Minute Maid’s frozen juice products presents an opportunity for smaller Canadian companies to enter the market and fill the gap left by the departing brands. While some consumers may feel nostalgic about the disappearance of these frozen juice options, others like grocery store owner Munther Zeid believe that the category has been declining for years and its absence may go unnoticed.