Old Orchard Brands

Old Orchard Brands is a juice and fruit-beverage company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan. Founded in 1985, the company initially concentrated on apple juice, particularly frozen apple-juice concentrates. It later broadened its portfolio into shelf-stable bottled beverages and positioned itself across several segments of the juice category, including juice cocktails, 100% juices, juice blends, organic products, reduced-sugar beverages, and premium products emphasizing antioxidant content. The company's development reflects a shift from a focused frozen-concentrate producer toward a broader packaged-beverage business. Its bottled portfolio was described as including dozens of varieties, while its frozen-concentrate range included approximately 30 products in the reference period. Old Orchard also expanded beyond conventional fruit juice by introducing tea beverages containing fruit juice, light sweetening, and USDA organic certification. This move extended the brand into adjacent beverage occasions while retaining its fruit-based identity. Old Orchard has emphasized product attributes such as natural ingredients, the absence of preservatives, and the absence of artificial dyes. It has also directed attention toward so-called functional-food positioning, including organic, antioxidant-oriented, and lower-sugar offerings. The Healthy Balance line became particularly important to the company's consumer-health and community-support profile and was associated with a multiyear partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In April 2018, Lassonde Industries, a Canadian agri-food company, agreed to acquire Old Orchard Brands for US$146 million. The transaction placed the Michigan juice business within Lassonde's broader food and beverage portfolio. Old Orchard remains identified as a Lassonde-owned juice company. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its corporate leadership, detailed distribution footprint, current financial performance, and post-acquisition operating structure.

Old Orchard Brands began operations in 1985 in Sparta, Michigan, as a producer of apple juice. Its early business centered on frozen apple-based juice concentrates, a format that allowed the company to build a presence in the packaged juice market while focusing on a relatively narrow product category. Over time, Old Orchard expanded from frozen concentrate into shelf-stable bottled beverages. The enlarged portfolio included juice cocktails, 100% juices, blends, organic juices, reduced-sugar products, and premium beverages promoted for antioxidant content. This expansion gave the company coverage across conventional, health-oriented, and specialty segments of the juice aisle. Reference material describes the business as having approximately 30 frozen-concentrate varieties and 62 bottled varieties during the period covered by those sources. The brand's product development also moved into adjacent beverage categories. Old Orchard introduced tea products made with a small amount of fruit juice, light sweetening, and USDA organic certification. The launch represented an effort to use the company's fruit-beverage capabilities in a format beyond conventional juice. At the same time, the company increasingly highlighted attributes associated with functional foods, including organic ingredients, antioxidant content, and reduced sugar. Old Orchard's stated formulation and marketing principles included the use of natural ingredients, no preservatives, and no artificial dyes. Its Healthy Balance line connected the brand's reduced-sugar and health-oriented positioning with a substantial charitable initiative. In 2005, Old Orchard established a four-year partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The partnership involved placing the JDRF logo on relevant packaging, supporting at least 75 Walk to Cure Diabetes events, and committing US$560,000 to diabetes research. The company also sourced apple juice made from concentrate internationally, with reference material identifying China and Ukraine among the origins used for some juice. This illustrates the supply-chain dimension of its packaged beverage operations, although the available material does not provide a complete sourcing policy or current supplier profile. A major ownership transition occurred in April 2018, when Lassonde Industries agreed to acquire Old Orchard Brands for US$146 million. Lassonde is a Canadian agri-food company, and the transaction made Old Orchard part of a larger food and beverage group. The available references do not establish further details about the transaction's completion mechanics, subsequent management changes, current revenue, manufacturing footprint, or current product count. Old Orchard is nevertheless identified as a Lassonde-owned juice company and continues to be treated as an active brand in the supplied reference material.

• 2018

  Lassonde Industries agrees to acquisition

  [1]Old Orchard Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  In April 2018, Lassonde Industries agreed to acquire Old Orchard Brands for US$146 million.

• 2005

  Healthy Balance partnership with JDRF

  [1]Old Orchard Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Old Orchard began a four-year partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation tied to the Healthy Balance product line and diabetes-research fundraising.

• 1985

  Company founded as an apple-juice producer

  [1]Old Orchard Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Old Orchard Brands began business in Sparta, Michigan, initially concentrating on apple juice and frozen apple-based juice concentrates.

A value-oriented and health-conscious juice brand combining frozen concentrates with a broad shelf-stable beverage portfolio. Its positioning emphasizes fruit-based products, organic and reduced-sugar choices, natural ingredients, preservative-free formulations, and selected functional-food attributes.

• Juice concentrate · 1985

  Frozen juice concentrates

  Frozen concentrates were the company's original core offering, with apple juice serving as the principal early product. The range later expanded to approximately 30 frozen-concentrate varieties according to the supplied reference material. These products represent Old Orchard's traditional presence in the concentrated-juice segment.

• Packaged juice

  Shelf-stable bottled juices

  Old Orchard broadened its business with shelf-stable bottled beverages. The bottled range included juice cocktails, 100% juices, and blends, with the referenced portfolio reaching approximately 62 varieties. The format enabled the brand to compete across everyday juice consumption occasions rather than relying only on frozen concentrate.

• Health-oriented juice

  Organic and reduced-sugar juices

  The company developed organic and reduced-sugar options as part of a broader health-conscious portfolio. These products support Old Orchard's emphasis on natural ingredients and functional-food attributes, although the available sources do not specify the complete current assortment or individual launch dates.

• Reduced-sugar beverage line

  Healthy Balance

  Healthy Balance is a health-oriented Old Orchard line associated with reduced-sugar positioning and the company's partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The line also served as the platform for a packaging and fundraising initiative supporting diabetes awareness and research.

• Tea beverage

  Organic fruit teas

  Old Orchard's tea expansion introduced blends containing a hint of fruit juice, light sweetening, and USDA organic certification. The products extended the brand into tea while preserving a connection to its fruit-based beverage identity.

• 2005Healthy Balance and JDRF partnership

  United States

  Old Orchard linked its Healthy Balance line with a four-year partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The initiative used product packaging and event support to connect the brand with diabetes research and public awareness.

  Outcome. The company stated that it would support at least 75 Walk to Cure Diabetes events and contribute US$560,000 to diabetes research over the partnership period.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale of Old Orchard Brands to Lassonde IndustriesM&A

  Background

  Old Orchard had developed from a frozen apple-concentrate producer into a broader juice and shelf-stable beverage company. Lassonde Industries pursued the acquisition as part of its agri-food and beverage activities.

  Action taken

  Lassonde Industries agreed in April 2018 to purchase Old Orchard Brands for US$146 million.

  Aftermath

  Old Orchard became part of Lassonde Industries' portfolio. The supplied references do not document subsequent management changes, integration details, or financial performance.

  Acquisition price. US$146 million (April 2018)

  Source

• Expansion into organic fruit teasProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to extend its juice expertise into adjacent beverage formats while maintaining a health-oriented and fruit-based proposition.

  Action taken

  Old Orchard launched tea blends containing fruit juice, light sweetening, and USDA organic certification.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded Old Orchard's stated product scope beyond juice, but the available sources do not report sales or market-share results.

  Source

1. 1Old Orchard Brandsen.wikipedia.org