ReaLemon

ReaLemon is a United States-origin lemon-juice brand whose principal product is made by reconstituting preserved lemon juice concentrate with filtered water to approximately the strength of natural lemon juice. The brand was created in 1934 by Irving Swartzburg, who initially sold bottled reconstituted juice to hotels, bars, and other commercial customers. The ReaLemon name came into use in the early 1940s. A related lime-juice brand, ReaLime, was introduced in 1944 and is manufactured using a comparable process. The product addressed a practical consumer need: bottled juice offered a more consistent and convenient alternative to squeezing fresh citrus. ReaLemon became especially prominent in the American processed-lemon-juice market. Borden acquired the United States rights in 1962 through its purchase of the ReaLemon-Puritan Company. At that time, the brand reportedly held approximately 90 percent of the domestic reconstituted lemon-juice market, and contemporary reporting placed its share of the broader processed lemon-juice market above 90 percent before competition reduced it later in the decade. Borden expanded ReaLemon into the United Kingdom in 1975. The brand encountered established competition from Reckitt & Coleman's Jif lemon juice, particularly after Borden considered using a lemon-shaped package similar to Jif's distinctive container. The ensuing dispute became known as the Jif Lemon case. In 1990, the English Court of Appeal ruled for Reckitt & Colman, finding that Jif's packaging had acquired sufficient public recognition and that consumers could be confused by the competing presentation. Ownership changed again when Eagle Family Foods acquired the ReaLemon and ReaLime brands from Borden in 1998. Mott's acquired them from Eagle in 2001. Mott's was then associated with Cadbury Schweppes and is now part of Keurig Dr Pepper. The brands were reported as holding a combined 48 percent share of the United States lemon- and lime-juice categories in 2001. As of the source material's 2016 description, Mott's manufactured and marketed both brands. ReaLemon is sold in plastic bottles, including the familiar bottle topped with a lemon-shaped depiction and yellow cap, as well as smaller lemon-shaped squeeze containers and single-serving packets. The formulation uses filtered water, lemon juice concentrate, sulfites as a preservative, and lemon oil to enhance flavor. Consumers use it in marinades, dressings, baked goods, cooked dishes, tea, lemonade, and other drinks. It can also help limit browning in cut produce. After opening, the product requires refrigeration. Lemon juice is additionally used in some household cleaning and deodorizing applications, although those uses are separate from the brand's principal food function. ReaLemon's history also includes regulatory scrutiny. In July 2012, the United States Food and Drug Administration warned Dr Pepper Snapple Group about hazard-analysis and critical-control-point violations at a Texas processing facility associated with lemon and lime juice. The FDA reported that juice was being held under unsanitary conditions and advised management that microorganism levels needed to be reduced. The available material does not establish a subsequent product recall or the final resolution of that warning. ReaLemon remains a convenience-oriented citrus-juice brand within Keurig Dr Pepper's Mott's portfolio.

Irving Swartzburg established the ReaLemon business in 1934 by bottling reconstituted lemon juice and selling it to hotels, bars, and other commercial buyers. Rather than selling only freshly squeezed juice, the business offered a processed product that could be stored and used with greater consistency. The ReaLemon brand name began to appear in the early 1940s. In 1944, the company introduced ReaLime, a corresponding reconstituted lime-juice product. Borden obtained the United States rights to both brands in 1962 when it purchased the ReaLemon-Puritan Company. The reported transaction value was approximately $12.4 million. ReaLemon was already dominant in its category, with an estimated 90 percent share of United States reconstituted lemon juice. Its reported share of the national processed lemon-juice market reached about 92 percent in early 1970, then declined to approximately 88 percent later that year as competitors, including Golden Crown, expanded. Borden subsequently developed the brand outside the United States. ReaLemon entered the United Kingdom in 1975 in a 250-milliliter bottle and had reached roughly one-quarter of the British lemon-juice market by 1980. Its growth brought it into direct competition with Jif, produced by Reckitt & Colman. Borden considered a lemon-shaped package resembling Jif's established presentation. Reckitt & Colman sued, arguing that the similarity could mislead shoppers. The dispute, known as the Jif Lemon case, reached the Court of Appeal and was resolved in 1990 in Reckitt & Colman's favor. The court recognized the reputation attached to Jif's packaging and concluded that consumers could believe ReaLemon was Jif when the products appeared on a supermarket shelf. Eagle Family Foods purchased ReaLemon and ReaLime from Borden in 1998. Mott's acquired the brands from Eagle in 2001 in a transaction reported at approximately $128 million. At that point, the two brands together reportedly held about 48 percent of the United States lemon- and lime-juice categories. Mott's was then a Cadbury Schweppes subsidiary; it later became part of Keurig Dr Pepper. The products are made by adding filtered water to preserved citrus concentrate. ReaLemon uses sulfites as a preservative and lemon oil for flavor enhancement; ReaLime uses a parallel formulation with lime oil. Packaging has included standard plastic bottles, citrus-shaped squeeze containers, and single-serving packets. The products are used in cooking, baking, marinades, salad dressings, hot tea, lemonade, and other beverages. They may also be used to reduce browning in cut potatoes and for some household cleaning or deodorizing purposes. In July 2012, the FDA issued a warning concerning hazard-analysis and critical-control-point violations at a Dr Pepper Snapple Group processing plant in Irving, Texas. The agency stated that lemon and lime juice had been held under unsanitary conditions that could pose a consumer-health risk and advised the company to reduce microorganism levels. The available source does not provide a documented recall or final disposition. By 2016, Mott's was identified as manufacturing and marketing both ReaLemon and ReaLime.

• 2001

  Mott's becomes owner

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  Mott's acquires ReaLemon and ReaLime from Eagle Family Foods.

• 1998

  Eagle Family Foods acquires the brands

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  Eagle Family Foods purchases ReaLemon and ReaLime from Borden.

• 1990

  Jif Lemon case decided

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  The Court of Appeal rules in favor of Reckitt & Colman in a packaging-confusion dispute involving Jif and ReaLemon.

• 1975

  United Kingdom launch

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  Borden introduces ReaLemon in the United Kingdom in a 250-milliliter bottle.

• 1962

  Borden acquires United States rights

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  Borden acquires the ReaLemon and ReaLime rights in the United States through the purchase of ReaLemon-Puritan Company.

• 1944

  ReaLime introduced

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  The related reconstituted lime-juice brand ReaLime is introduced.

• 1940

  ReaLemon name enters use

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  The ReaLemon brand name begins to be used in the early 1940s.

• 1934

  ReaLemon business begins

  [1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  Irving Swartzburg begins selling bottled reconstituted lemon juice to hotels, bars, and commercial customers.

Convenient, shelf-stable or packaged citrus juice for everyday cooking, baking, beverages, marinades, dressings, and selected household applications.

• Reconstituted citrus juice · 1934

  ReaLemon Lemon Juice

  The core product is made by combining preserved lemon juice concentrate with filtered water to natural strength. Sulfites are used as a preservative and lemon oil is added for flavor enhancement. It is sold in plastic bottles, smaller lemon-shaped squeeze containers, and single-serving packets. Typical uses include marinades, dressings, baking, cooked dishes, tea, lemonade, and other beverages. The product should be refrigerated after opening.

• Reconstituted citrus juice · 1944

  ReaLime Lime Juice

  ReaLime is the related lime-juice brand introduced in 1944. It is produced in a manner similar to ReaLemon by reconstituting lime concentrate with filtered water, with sulfites and lime oil used in processing. It is used in recipes, marinades, dressings, beverages, and some non-culinary applications, and is packaged in citrus-themed plastic containers.

• 2012

  FDA processing-plant warning

  The FDA warned Dr Pepper Snapple Group about hazard-analysis and critical-control-point violations at an Irving, Texas, facility. Lemon and lime juice was reportedly held in unsanitary conditions, creating a potential health concern. The reference material does not confirm a recall or subsequent final resolution.

  Source

Read more

• 2001

  Mott's acquisition of ReaLemon and ReaLimeM&A

  Background

  Eagle Family Foods owned the brands after acquiring them from Borden in 1998.

  Action taken

  Mott's purchased the ReaLemon and ReaLime brands from Eagle Family Foods.

  Aftermath

  The brands became part of the Mott's portfolio and are now associated with Keurig Dr Pepper.

  Reported acquisition cost. (2001)

  Source

• 1975

  Expansion into the United KingdomStrategy

  Background

  Borden sought to extend ReaLemon's presence beyond the United States after the brand had become strong in the domestic processed lemon-juice market.

  Action taken

  The company introduced ReaLemon in the United Kingdom in a 250-milliliter bottle.

  Aftermath

  By 1980, ReaLemon reportedly held about one-quarter of the United Kingdom lemon-juice market, where it competed with Jif.

  • Jif — Reckitt & Colman responded with packaging changes and later litigation over alleged consumer confusion.

  Source

• 2016

  Mott's continues manufacture and marketing of ReaLemon and ReaLime[1]ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Reference material identified Mott's, part of the company group now known as Keurig Dr Pepper, as the manufacturer and marketer of ReaLemon and ReaLime.

1. 1ReaLemonen.wikipedia.org