Mott’s Inc., a division of London- based Cadbury Schweppes plc, announced today it had agreed to purchase the Mauna La’i brand from Mauna La’i Tropicals, Ltd. The transaction is expected to be completed by mid-summer, 2000 and does not include any manufacturing facilities or equipment.
Mauna La’i products, with net sales in excess of $20 million last year, are marketed as authentic Hawaiian tropical juice drinks delivering a uniquely refreshing taste. They are sold in the U.S. in the tropical flavors of Island Guava, Paradise Passion and Mango Mango. Mauna La’i products are distributed nationally to most large grocery stores.
“Mauna La’i has displayed strong growth in recent years with 16 percent average annual volume growth since 1997,” said Brad Irwin, president-Mott’s.
“The Mauna La’i brand is a proven winner and complements nicely our award winning portfolio of juice products. We are excited about the potential for future growth which we believe could be significant.”
The tropical juice drink segment continues to generate the highest growth rate in the beverage industry (16 percent over the 52-week period ending May 20, 2000) according to ACNielsen. If current growth rates are maintained, tropical juice drinks will become the third largest juice segment, behind cranberry/blend drinks and apple juice, within one to two years.
Launched in 1986, Mauna La’i was originally a product of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. The brand was sold in 1997 to Mauna La’i Tropicals but Ocean Spray continued to package the brand. After a short transition period after completion of the sale, the Mauna La’i line will be produced at Mott’s factories.
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By GlobalDataThe acquisition of Mauna La’i comes approximately one year after Mott’s parent, Cadbury Schweppes, purchased Hawaiian Punch from Procter & Gamble. Mott’s currently produces, markets and sells the Hawaiian Punch products found in the supermarket juice section. Its sister company, Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., produces the concentrate for bottlers for Hawaiian Punch sales in the soft drink aisle.
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Mott’s is the nation’s leading producer of branded apple sauce and apple juice. Other well-known products made by Mott’s include Mott’s Fruitsations, Hawaiian Punch Fruit Drink, Clamato, Grandma’s Molasses, the number one brand of Molasses in America, Holland House and Mr & Mrs T, the top selling cocktail mixers in the United States and Rose’s, the nation’s leading brand of lime juice and grenadine. More information about Mott’s can be found on its website, www.motts.com.