Country Time
American beverage brand best known for powdered lemonade and other lemon-flavored drink mixes.
Last updated November 3, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Country Time is an American beverage brand centered on non-carbonated, lemon-flavored drinks, especially powdered lemonade mix prepared by adding water. The brand was introduced in 1975 by General Foods and became associated with the convenience of making lemonade at home from a shelf-stable powder rather than purchasing freshly prepared or ready-to-drink lemonade. Its core proposition has historically combined familiar lemonade flavor, ease of preparation, and suitability for family and group consumption. The portfolio expanded beyond the original lemonade flavor over time. Variants identified in reference material include pink lemonade, raspberry lemonade, and strawberry lemonade, as well as reduced-calorie versions. Country Time Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink Lemonade were introduced in 2007 and were marketed as containing half the sugar of the regular versions, with 35 calories per serving according to the cited reference. These products broadened the brand's appeal to consumers seeking a lower-calorie powdered beverage while retaining the recognizable Country Time format. Country Time has existed through several changes in corporate ownership. General Foods introduced the brand and remained its owner when A&W received a license in 1981 to produce bottled and canned ready-to-drink versions. In 1989, General Foods merged with Kraft Foods, bringing Country Time into the Kraft portfolio. The brand subsequently became part of the Kraft Heinz organization following the creation of Kraft Heinz in 2015. The cited reference describes the brand as continuing under Kraft ownership; in current corporate terms, it is associated with Kraft Heinz's North American branded food and beverage portfolio. Although powdered mix is the product form most closely identified with Country Time, the brand has also appeared in ready-to-drink and home-beverage formats. In 2012, SodaStream added several Country Time flavors to its Sodamix syrup range for use with the company's home soda makers. This extended the brand into a preparation system based on carbonated water, even though Country Time's traditional identity is rooted in non-carbonated lemonade. The brand has also maintained a visible connection with motorsports. Country Time sponsored NASCAR cars beginning in 1989, including a car driven by Michael Waltrip. The sponsorship continued into the 1990s and included Neil Bonnett's Country Time-sponsored car in the 1994 Daytona 500. This activity gave the otherwise everyday grocery brand a presence in a major American sporting and entertainment setting. Country Time is primarily a United States brand in the available reference material, with no documented headquarters, independent public listing, or separately disclosed financial results. Its continuing identity is that of a mass-market, family-oriented beverage brand focused on lemonade mixes and related drink formats.
History
Country Time originated in the United States in 1975, when General Foods introduced a lemonade-flavored powdered drink mix under the brand name. The product was designed for preparation at home by combining the mix with water. This format gave the brand a long shelf life and made it suitable for household use, outdoor gatherings, and other occasions where consumers wanted a lemonade-style drink without buying fresh ingredients or a prepared beverage. After the original lemonade product was established, Country Time broadened its flavor range. Pink lemonade became one of the principal extensions, and raspberry and strawberry lemonade variants were also introduced. These additions allowed the brand to use its established lemonade identity across a wider set of fruit flavors while retaining the convenience of powdered preparation. The brand remained principally associated with the United States and with packaged grocery-store drink mixes. In 1981, A&W obtained a license to manufacture bottled and canned ready-to-drink Country Time products from General Foods, which then owned the brand. This licensing arrangement extended Country Time beyond its traditional powdered form into packaged beverages that could be consumed without household preparation. The ready-to-drink activity complemented rather than replaced the mix business, which remained the brand's defining product format. A major corporate transition occurred in 1989, when General Foods merged with Kraft Foods. Country Time consequently moved into the Kraft brand portfolio. The brand also developed a marketing presence in NASCAR during this period: it began sponsoring NASCAR cars in 1989, including a Michael Waltrip-driven car that achieved a top-five finish. Country Time sponsorship continued into the 1990s. One notable association was with Neil Bonnett's Country Time-sponsored car in the 1994 Daytona 500; Bonnett died in a crash while practicing for that race. The racing sponsorship connected a household beverage brand with a prominent American motorsport audience. Country Time later addressed lower-calorie positioning through the launch of Country Time Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink Lemonade in 2007. The products were described as having half the sugar of the regular versions and were promoted at 35 calories per serving. This represented a product-line adjustment toward consumers interested in reducing sugar or calorie intake while retaining the brand's recognizable flavor profile and preparation method. In April 2012, SodaStream incorporated several Country Time flavors into its Sodamix syrup line for home soda makers. The collaboration introduced Country Time flavors into a system built around flavored carbonated water, creating a further preparation format beyond powdered mix and conventional ready-to-drink packaging. Following Kraft Foods' corporate history and the later formation of Kraft Heinz, Country Time became associated with Kraft Heinz's branded food and beverage portfolio. The available reference material does not identify a separate Country Time corporate entity, independent headquarters, public listing, financial disclosures, or named brand executives. The brand's documented history is therefore primarily a product and marketing history: introduction by General Foods, expansion into flavors and ready-to-drink formats, transfer into the Kraft organization, lower-calorie line extensions, SodaStream distribution, and long-running visibility through NASCAR sponsorship.
- 2012
Country Time enters the SodaStream syrup range
[1]Several Country Time flavors are added to SodaStream's Sodamix syrups for home beverage makers.
- 2007
Lite lemonade products launch
[1]Country Time introduces Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink Lemonade as reduced-sugar, lower-calorie extensions.
- 1989
Country Time moves into the Kraft portfolio
[1]General Foods merges with Kraft Foods, placing Country Time under Kraft ownership.
- 1989
NASCAR sponsorship begins
[1]Country Time begins sponsoring NASCAR cars, including a car driven by Michael Waltrip.
- 1981
A&W receives a ready-to-drink license
[1]A&W receives a license to produce bottled and canned Country Time beverages from General Foods.
- 1975
Country Time lemonade mix is introduced
[1]General Foods introduces Country Time as a lemon-flavored powdered drink mix.
Products and positioning
Family-oriented, convenient, mass-market lemonade and powdered beverage brand.
Powdered lemonade mix · 1975
Country Time Lemonade
The original and defining Country Time product is a lemon-flavored powdered drink mix introduced in 1975. Consumers prepare it by dissolving the mix in water, making it a shelf-stable alternative to freshly prepared lemonade. Its convenience, familiar sweet-tart profile, and suitability for household serving have formed the foundation of the brand.
Powdered lemonade mix
Country Time Pink Lemonade
Pink Lemonade is a major flavor extension of the original Country Time line. It applies the brand's powdered preparation format to a pink lemonade variant, broadening the range beyond standard yellow lemonade while preserving the brand's emphasis on convenient home preparation.
Flavored lemonade mix
Country Time Raspberry Lemonade
Raspberry Lemonade is one of the fruit-flavored extensions identified in the brand's documented history. It combines the established lemonade base with raspberry flavoring and demonstrates Country Time's strategy of extending a recognizable core product into additional fruit profiles.
Flavored lemonade mix
Country Time Strawberry Lemonade
Strawberry Lemonade is another documented flavor extension. Like the other variants, it uses the established Country Time lemonade platform and packaged mix format to offer a sweeter fruit-oriented alternative to the original flavor.
Reduced-calorie powdered lemonade mix · 2007
Country Time Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink Lemonade
Introduced in 2007, the Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink Lemonade products were positioned as lower-sugar alternatives to the regular versions. The cited reference states that they contained half the sugar and were advertised at 35 calories per serving, giving the brand a reduced-calorie option within its traditional powdered format.
Bottled and canned lemonade · 1981
Country Time ready-to-drink beverages
Country Time was also extended into bottled and canned ready-to-drink products through an A&W license beginning in 1981. These products were intended for direct consumption and removed the preparation step associated with the traditional powdered mix. The available reference does not establish the current availability of every ready-to-drink format.
Home beverage syrup · 2012
Country Time SodaStream syrups
In 2012, several Country Time flavors were made available through SodaStream's Sodamix syrup range. The products enabled consumers to prepare Country Time-flavored beverages with SodaStream home soda makers, extending the brand into a home carbonation context.
Controversies
2021
Kraft Heinz recalls select Country Time and Kool-Aid drink mixes
In November 2021, Kraft Heinz recalled some Country Time Lemonade and Kool-Aid Tropical Punch powdered drink mixes because the products might contain small pieces of metal and glass. The company urged customers not to consume affected products and to return them for a refund or discard them. The recall was announced by NPR, which reported the possible presence of glass and metal in the powder.
Marketing campaigns
- 1989Country Time NASCAR sponsorship
United States
Country Time began sponsoring NASCAR cars in 1989. Michael Waltrip drove a Country Time-sponsored car and recorded a top-five finish, while later sponsorship activity included Neil Bonnett's Country Time car in the 1994 Daytona 500.
Outcome. The sponsorship gave Country Time sustained visibility in American motorsports and associated the grocery beverage brand with NASCAR audiences.
Brand decisions
2012
SodaStream flavor partnershipProduct launchBackground
Home beverage makers created an additional distribution and preparation channel for branded drink flavors.
Action taken
Several Country Time flavors were added to SodaStream's Sodamix syrup line.
Aftermath
Country Time became available in a home carbonation format in addition to powdered mix and previously licensed ready-to-drink products.
2007
Launch of Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink LemonadeProduct launchBackground
The brand sought to offer alternatives to its regular lemonade products for consumers concerned with sugar and calorie levels.
Action taken
Country Time introduced Lite Lemonade and Lite Pink Lemonade, described as having half the sugar of the regular products.
Aftermath
The launches added reduced-calorie options to the established powdered lemonade portfolio.
1981
Extend the brand into ready-to-drink packagingStrategyBackground
Country Time was primarily known as a powdered lemonade mix, while consumers also purchased packaged beverages for immediate consumption.
Action taken
General Foods licensed A&W to produce bottled and canned Country Time products.
Aftermath
The licensing arrangement expanded Country Time into ready-to-drink formats without replacing its core powdered mix identity.
Recent events
Kraft Heinz recalls select Country Time and Kool-Aid drink mixes[2]
Reported:
Kraft Heinz recalled some Country Time Lemonade and Kool-Aid Tropical Punch powdered drink mixes because they might contain small pieces of metal and glass. The company urged customers not to consume affected products and to return them for a refund or discard them.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/country-time · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled