Market Trends: Unit sales drop for refrigerated juices
In the last 52 weeks, unit sales dropped 2.8% in the refrigerated juices and drinks category, but processors were able to increase prices an average of 11 cents.
The refrigerated juices and drinks category includes orange, apple, cranberry, grape, blended fruits and other flavors. Lemonade and vegetable drinks also fall under this umbrella. In the 52 weeks ended April 15, total sales in the category were $4.4 billion, an increase of 0.9%. Unit sales fell 2.8% to 1.55 billion. The only bright spot in the category was an average price increase of 11 cents. The data come from SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago.
Although it slipped in both dollar sales and unit sales (down 1% and 6% respectively), the average price per unit in the orange juice category was up 14 cents in the period. In this $2.5 billion category, No. 6 Minute Maid (owned by Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co.) posted triple-digit increases in both dollar sales, up 155% to $65.3 million, and unit sales, up 211%. Others posting dollar sales gains were: No. 4 Florida’s Natural, a division of Citrus World, Lake Wales, Fla. (11%); No. 9 Johanna Foods’ Tree Ripe, Flemington, N.J. (9%); and No. 7 Minute Maid Premium Kids(5%). No. 1 Tropicana Pure Premium (owned by PepsiCo) was down 9% in dollar sales to $744 million.