Coca-Cola Company announced that it is officially discontinuing Minute Maid frozen juice concentrates in the United States and Canada.
While the brand itself is not being discontinued, Coca-Cola is exiting the “frozen can” category entirely. This brings an end to an 80-year era for the iconic product that first launched in 1946 and helped make orange juice a year-round household staple.
1. Why the Frozen Cans are Vanishing
The decision is a direct response to a decade-long shift in how people buy and consume juice.
- Shifting Preferences: Modern consumers overwhelmingly prefer fresh, ready-to-drink (RTD), and refrigerated juices over the “thaw-and-mix” process required for concentrates.
- Declining Sales: According to NielsenIQ data, sales in the frozen beverage category fell nearly 8% in 2025 alone. At its peak in the 1960s, frozen concentrate was the primary way Americans drank OJ; by 2026, it represented a tiny fraction of the market.
- Inflation and Costs: Rising input costs for orange juice (due to climate and crop issues) made the low-margin frozen cans less viable for retailers and manufacturers alike.
2. The Full Discontinuation List
The phase-out will be completed throughout the first quarter of 2026, with inventory remaining on shelves only until supplies run out. The affected products include:
- Minute Maid Orange Juice (Original, Country Style, and Pulp Free)
- Minute Maid Lemonade & Pink Lemonade
- Minute Maid Limeade
- Minute Maid Raspberry Lemonade
- Fruitopia Fruit Punch (Canada)
- Five Alive Juice Blend (Canada)
3. What Happens to the Minute Maid Brand?
Minute Maid remains the world’s largest juice brand and a core part of Coca-Cola’s “Beverages for Life” strategy. The company is doubling down on its higher-growth segments:
- Fresh & Refrigerated: Minute Maid will focus on its chilled carton and bottle lineup.
- Zero Sugar Success: The Minute Maid Zero Sugar line, launched in 2020, has been a major growth driver and will continue to expand.
- Unified Branding: In 2023, Minute Maid underwent its first-ever global visual refresh (unifying global sub-brands like Cappy in Europe and del Valle in Latin America) to ensure a consistent, modern “fresh” look.
4. A “Nostalgic” Chapter Ends
For many, the sound of a frozen juice can “ker-plunking” into a pitcher is a childhood memory. However, Coca-Cola’s move reflects a broader 2026 industry trend of portfolio pruning, where legacy giants are cutting low-demand “SKUs” (Stock Keeping Units) to focus on premium, health-conscious, and ready-to-consume products.
