Bolthouse Farms, portfolio company of Butterfly, aligns powerhouse juice brands to propel Evolution Fresh forward; Starbucks to focus efforts on the growth of its core business
Starbucks and Bolthouse Farms announced entry into a definitive agreement for Bolthouse Farms to acquire the brand and business of Evolution Fresh. The partners (employees) that support the business will also transition to Bolthouse Farms upon close of the transaction.
Evolution Fresh is a leading producer of primarily organic, cold-pressed, premium juice products. By joining forces with Bolthouse Farms – the No. 1 super premium refrigerated beverage brand and largest carrot supplier to North American retailers1 – Evolution Fresh will have the opportunity to accelerate its growth trajectory while Starbucks focuses its efforts on the growth of the core Starbucks business and its partner and customer experience.
“Evolution Fresh has grown steadily over the last several years as a result of our partners’ hard work and commitment to the brand. We feel there is a great runway and opportunity to take Evolution Fresh to the next level, and Bolthouse Farms’ considerable experience and success in the premium beverage category will allow the brand to continue growing,” said Hans Melotte, Starbucks executive vice president Global Channel Development. “Bolthouse Farms shares the same values and commitment to putting people first in everything they do, which affirms for us that we have found the right opportunity for Evolution Fresh.”
Through this acquisition, Bolthouse Farms will expand its beverage offerings from nutrient-dense, plant-powered juices and smoothies to include a full lineup of primarily organic cold-pressed, premium juices. Starbucks stores in the U.S. will continue to sell Evolution Fresh products.
“Evolution Fresh is a natural extension of the Bolthouse Farms portfolio and we look forward to welcoming the team,” said Jeff Dunn, chairman and chief executive officer of Bolthouse Farms. “At Bolthouse Farms, with the support of Butterfly, we strive to ensure that the acres we grow and beverages we make have a positive impact on the land, on the people who make up our company, and on all people. By bringing Evolution Fresh into our portfolio, we will extend our spirit of ingenuity and innovation, sharing resources and passion for high-quality, nutrient-dense juices to pioneer solutions for today’s food system.”
Butterfly is a leading private equity firm that specializes in the food sector with a particular focus on high-growth, on-trend categories. Through Bolthouse Farms, Evolution Fresh joins Butterfly’s brand portfolio that includes the likes of Chosen Foods, MaryRuth Organics, Orgain, and Pete and Gerry’s Organics.
“We have long admired the Evolution Fresh brand and see tremendous untapped potential in the premium beverage category. By bringing these powerhouse brands together — Bolthouse Farms and Evolution Fresh — we will deliver a robust, high-growth, and consumer-preferred portfolio of juices to market,” said Bill Levisay, president, Consumer Brands, Bolthouse Farms.
The transaction, which is for an undisclosed amount, is expected to close later this year.
About Bolthouse Farms
For more than a century, Bolthouse Farms has been known as the innovation leader in growing and distributing carrots and high-quality, nutrient-dense branded products. Employing more than 2,200 people and headquartered in Bakersfield in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley, Bolthouse Farms is one of the largest carrot growers and distributors in the U.S. and the No. 1 premium refrigerated beverage brand in U.S. retail. Guided by its purpose — Ingenuity Grows Good — the company also produces and sells super-premium juices, smoothies, café beverages, protein shakes, functional beverages and premium refrigerated dressings, all under the Bolthouse Farms® brand name.
1SOURCE: IRI MULO L52 weeks ending May 1, 2022
Customers looking for their last sips of summer can find two new delicious and vibrant green drinks, the Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refreshers® Beverage and the Star Drink, now available at Starbucks stores across the U.S. Following a successful launch in Canada earlier this summer, the drinks are the newest refreshing beverages to join Starbucks permanent menu.
Customers can use the Starbucks® App to find a store nearby, order ahead and have contactless payment. And for those who want their favorite Starbucks drinks and food without leaving home there is always Starbucks® Delivers.
New Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Rfreshers Beverage
A tropical combination of starfruit flavored juice and real kiwi pieces, hand-shaken with ice. Now on the permanent menu to transport you to summer with every sip, no matter the time of year. With less than 100 calories in a Grande (16 fl. oz. beverage), the Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refreshers joins the Starbucks Refreshers platform, alongside customer-favorites Strawberry Açaí Starbucks Refreshers®, Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers® and Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refreshers®.
New Star Drink
This refreshing new beverage adds coconutmilk to our new Kiwi Starfruit Starbucks Refreshers Beverage for a creamy and refreshing sip that’s under 200 calories in a Grande (16 fl. oz. beverage). Now on the permanent menu alongside other creamy customer favorites like the Pink Drink, Violet Drink and Dragon Drink.
It’s been 15 years since the first Starbucks soy latte (and soy chai tea latte and soy cappuccino) was served. The company launched its first dairy alternative in 2004 just as plant-based milks were starting to gain in popularity.
Starbucks added coconutmilk to its lineup in 2015 and almondmilk in 2016. The company’s Research & Development team also began creating new beverages to highlight the flavors of the non-dairy milks like Coconutmilk Mocha Macchiato and Horchata Almondmilk Frappuccino® blended beverage.
Now, the first new Starbucks beverages of the decade feature these plant-based milk alternatives with the arrival of the Almondmilk Honey Flat White and Coconutmilk Latte. The beverages join the permanent menu in stores in the United States and Canada as part of the new winter food and beverage lineup. This also marks the regional introduction of oatmilk as a new non-dairy option as the Oatmilk Honey Latte arrives in select U.S. markets in the Midwest.
Starbucks Coffee Japan, Ltd. announced that it will eliminate single-use plastic straws from nearly 1,500 stores across Japan and begin providing paper straws to customers starting in January 2020. The new paper straws are made from responsibly-sourced paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), available in standard sizes for iced beverages and large sizes for Frappuccino® blended beverages.
The new standard-sized paper straws will be available in select stores beginning in January, with a complete rollout to all stores across the Japan market by March. Large-sized straws for Frappuccino blended beverages will be available in all store by May. All paper straws will come in paper packaging with positive messages about sustainability.
“Since we announced our global commitment to eliminate single-use plastic straws across all stores by the end of 2020, Starbucks Japan has focused tirelessly on finding a straw alternative that meets our quality standards,” said Takafumi Minaguchi, representative director and ceo, Starbucks Japan. “We’re pleased to announce that we’ve achieved our goal. As technologies and innovations evolve, we see opportunities to continue to develop the premium Starbucks Experience our customers love in a sustainable way.”
Starbucks continues to explore innovative ways to reduce single-use plastics in stores throughout Japan. Since the first store opened in Ginza, Tokyo in 1996, Starbucks stores in Japan have offered a 20 yen discount for customers who bring their own cups or tumblers.
Starbucks newest, colorful beverages – Teavana™ Flavored Tea Lemonades and Flavored Iced Teas – are a perfect way to refresh during hot summer days. Three delicious flavors are available year-round:
Teavana Peach Green Tea Lemonade: This boldly flavored and refreshing iced tea starts with Teavana Green Iced Tea and is now made with a combination of Starbucks peach-flavored fruit juice blend and lemonade, then sweetened with liquid cane sugar and hand-shaken with ice.
Teavana Guava White Tea Lemonade: This boldly flavored and refreshing iced tea starts with Teavana White Iced Tea and is now made with a combination of Starbucks guava-flavored fruit juice blend and lemonade, then sweetened with liquid cane sugar and hand-shaken with ice.
Teavana Blueberry Black Tea Lemonade: This boldly flavored and refreshing iced tea starts with Teavana Black Iced Tea and is now made with a combination of Starbucks blueberry-flavored fruit juice blend and lemonade, then sweetened with liquid cane sugar and hand-shaken with ice.
As with all Starbucks beverages, Teavana Flavored Iced Tea Lemonades are customizable! A few barista favorites include:
- Try it without the lemonade and make it a Teavana Flavored Iced Tea
- Mix-and-match any fruit juice blend with any iced tea base to create your own flavor experience
- Adjust the sweetness by adding or removing the liquid cane sugar
Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) fans rejoice! While the official date of the return of the original handcrafted Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte remains under wraps, Starbucks announced the launch of two new products in fall’s favorite flavor, coming exclusively to grocery locations: new ready-to-drink Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte and Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Flavored Ground Coffee. Customers can start prepping for fall with new Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice offerings and other returning favorites, for cozy coffee moments at home.
New! Ready-to-drink Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte
Coming to grocery locations in the US later this month, the new ready-to-drink Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte features Starbucks high-quality arabica coffee with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove spices, and creamy milk. In June, Starbucks launched the new ready-to-drink Starbucks Iced Latte, an on-the-go beverage inspired by the customer-favorite handcrafted Caffe Latte that’s been on the Starbucks menu since 1984. Ready-to-drink Starbucks Iced Latte will continue to roll out other limited-time flavors throughout the year. The suggested retail price is $ 2.79 for a 14-fluid-ounce bottle.
New! Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Flavored Ground Coffee
Available now where groceries are sold in the US, this new fall coffee features Starbucks lightest roast coffee with notes of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add a splash of cream and a bit of sugar to evoke the familiar flavors inspired by the handcrafted Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. The suggested retail price is $ 9.99 for an 11-ounce bag.
This year, customers will have six ways to enjoy the flavors of Starbucks PSL where groceries are sold as the new offerings join returning favorites Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Caffe Latte K-Cup® Pods, Starbucks® Iced Espresso Classics Pumpkin Spice Latte, Starbucks VIA® Instant Pumpkin Spice Latte and Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino® Chilled Coffee Drink.
Starbucks first launched the handcrafted Pumpkin Spice Latte at stores in 2003 and this fan-favorite beverage has since become Starbucks most popular seasonal beverage of all time.
