Minute Maid, J&J Snacks Form Alliance
"Through this strategic alliance, we plan to grow the frozen juice novelty category by using two strong premier brands in the juice and juice drink category," said Gary Poos, VP, new channel activation, The Minute Maid Company. "J&J Snack Foods is an industry leader with the customer focus and executional knowledge needed to be successful in the highly competitive supermarket freezer case."
The alliance plans to start shipping a variety of new Minute Maid and Hi-C brand products on or before March 1, 2000. Under the agreement, J&J Snack Foods will be responsible for production, distribution and sales to all trade and consumer channels. Responsibility for new product development will be shared jointly between the two companies, as will the development and execution of marketing programs.
The Minute Maid line of products that J&J Snack Foods will produce and distribute includes Minute Maid soft frozen lemonade and Minute Maid Juice Bars. Minute Maid soft frozen lemonade, which made its debut at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, will be reintroduced with new consumer-preferred packaging. The product will be available to all foodservice customers and packaged for retail in new six-packs of 4-oz, easy-to-use "squeeze tubes."
Minute Maid Juice Bars contain 92% fruit juice and a full day's supply of vitamin C. Sold in variety packs of orange, grape and cherry, the easy-to-grip, portable packages are designed to appeal to all age groups.
Edited by Scott Hegenbart