Bolthouse Farms to Acquire Starbucks’ Evolution Fresh
Starbucks and Bolthouse Farms have entered into a definitive agreement for Bolthouse Farms to acquire the brand and business of Evolution Fresh. The partners (employees) that support the business will also transition to Bolthouse Farms upon close of the transaction.
Evolution Fresh is a leading producer of primarily organic, cold-pressed, premium juice products. By joining forces with Bolthouse Farms – the No. 1 super premium refrigerated beverage brand and largest carrot supplier to North American retailers1 – Evolution Fresh will have the opportunity to accelerate its growth trajectory while Starbucks focuses its efforts on the growth of the core Starbucks business and its partner and customer experience.
“Evolution Fresh has grown steadily over the last several years as a result of our partners’ hard work and commitment to the brand. We feel there is a great runway and opportunity to take Evolution Fresh to the next level, and Bolthouse Farms’ considerable experience and success in the premium beverage category will allow the brand to continue growing,” said Hans Melotte, Starbucks executive vice president Global Channel Development. “Bolthouse Farms shares the same values and commitment to putting people first in everything they do, which affirms for us that we have found the right opportunity for Evolution Fresh.”
Through this acquisition, Bolthouse Farms will expand its beverage offerings from nutrient-dense, plant-powered juices and smoothies to include a full lineup of primarily organic cold-pressed, premium juices. Starbucks stores in the United States will continue to sell Evolution Fresh products.
“Evolution Fresh is a natural extension of the Bolthouse Farms portfolio and we look forward to welcoming the team,” said Jeff Dunn, chairman and chief executive officer of Bolthouse Farms. “At Bolthouse Farms, with the support of Butterfly, we strive to ensure that the acres we grow and beverages we make have a positive impact on the land, on the people who make up our company, and on all people. By bringing Evolution Fresh into our portfolio, we will extend our spirit of ingenuity and innovation, sharing resources and passion for high-quality, nutrient-dense juices to pioneer solutions for today’s food system.”
Butterfly is a leading private equity firm that specializes in the food sector with a particular focus on high-growth, on-trend categories. Through Bolthouse Farms, Evolution Fresh joins Butterfly’s brand portfolio that includes the likes of Chosen Foods, MaryRuth Organics, Orgain, and Pete and Gerry’s Organics.
“We have long admired the Evolution Fresh brand and see tremendous untapped potential in the premium beverage category. By bringing these powerhouse brands together — Bolthouse Farms and Evolution Fresh — we will deliver a robust, high-growth, and consumer-preferred portfolio of juices to market,” said Bill Levisay, president, Consumer Brands, Bolthouse Farms.
The transaction, which is for an undisclosed amount, is expected to close later this year.
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SunnyD, Nia Sioux Stay ‘ReFreshed’ This Summer
From what you wear to what you sip, SunnyD beverage brand, owned by Harvest Hill Beverage Company, is bringing fans a refreshed take on nostalgic summer vibes with the return of two fan-favorite flavors: classic Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade. The Swag Shop will return filled with summer staples updated with a lemony-twist. To kick it all off with a splash, SunnyD has teamed up with singer, actress, podcast host and former “Dance Moms star” Nia Sioux, to announce the Summer ReFresh Contest on TikTok.
Fans can participate in the Summer ReFresh Contest through June 6 by posting a duet response on TikTok to Nia’s contest kick-off video showing how they’re refreshing their style for a sunny activity outside. Whether it’s a trendy tie-dye take on a plain white tee for an afternoon bike ride or revamping your poolside gear to be styling in the sun, eligible participants are encouraged to put their individual style on display.
One grand prize winner will receive nearly $5,000 in prizes, including a $4,500 cash prize, the full summer swag collection and a summertime supply of SunnyD’s Raspberry Lemonade and Lemonade. Five runners up will win the exclusive summer swag collection and SunnyD’s lemonades.
The Swag Shop is also back for a limited-edition summer run with a fresh take on merch made with bold designs inspired by lemonade flavors. The items available include:
- Tie-Dyed T-Shirt ($25) – Made with soft cotton material, this logo tee features a pink and yellow tie-dyed pattern inspired by the Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade flavors.
- Tie-Dyed Shorts ($40) – Pair them with the tie-dye tee or rock them on their own, these eye-catching logo gym shorts are a versatile, bold pick to build a summer outfit around.
- Bucket Hat ($30) – Bucket hats are back and – dare we say – here to stay. This white canvas bucket hat will have you looking and feeling cool all summer long.
- Slides ($40) – To rep SunnyD from head to toe (literally), these slides are a must-have for days by the pool, on the beach, or just hanging with besties.
- Skateboard ($100) – A first, limited drop, SunnyD fans can shred in style with this retro skateboard inspired by our very own skateboarding on sand commercial.
Relive the nostalgic days of summer lemonade stands by purchasing multi-serve 64-ounce carafes of Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade from retailers nationwide including Kroger, Walmart and more, all while supplies last. Like other flavors, Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade contain 100% Vitamin C and only 60 calories per 8-ounce serving.
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Blood Orange Juice from Dream Foods International #ExpoEast
Dream Foods International, founded in 1999 and located in Santa Monica, California, specializes in award-winning organic citrus juices and natural ethnic foods. The company began bottling juices near the Mount Etna volcano in Sicily where local growers and artisan factories batch-produce the company’s juices for distribution across North America.
Visit booth 324 at Natural Products Expo East
A recent partnership with Polenghi, USA has given Dream Foods International a wide variety of private label options and a larger branded selection for retailers. As one of the largest private label sources in Europe, it now processes 10 percent of the world’s lemon juice supply.
All of the citrus fruit used to make Dream Foods juices are harvested by hand and processed immediately. The products are organic, non-GMO, kosher and made with not-from-concentrate juices. Every year, time is spent at Sicilian citrus farms to better understand seasonal variations as well as an aid to understand the environmental effects that Mt. Etna, an active volcano, has on citrus. This regular time spent at the farms provides an intimate knowledge of organic citrus, from farm to supermarket, in each and every product.
Dream Foods is looking forward to the new horizons of the future. The company added a very strong dry grocery category when it introduced the Casa Mexicana line of authentic Mexican seasonings and rice dishes that feature top-trending flavor profiles.
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Now that Dream Foods is partnered in Italy with Polenghi USA, it has become one of the largest worldwide suppliers of lemon juice. The partnership has also caused a strong expansion throughout the U.S. and has added great depth to its private label capabilities.
Blood orange juice is back! After floods and torrential rains throughout Europe, which diminished the crops in 2016-17, this year’s yield is abundant and readily available. Dream Foods has expanded lemon juice in both certified organic and conventional juices, as well as in larger foodservice sizes and portion packs.
The company works with natural specialty grocers, mass retailers, club stores, private label and foodservice customers. Dream Foods is able to offer healthier choices, competitive pricing and a larger selection.
