Canadian households may soon hear the familiar “schhhhhlorp” sound as frozen juice makes a comeback at one of the country’s major retailers. Loblaw has announced the return of frozen concentrated drinks under its No Name brand in stores nationwide. The new lineup will feature White Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Limeade, Grape Punch, Fruit Punch, and Berry Punch, with an expected arrival before the end of June.
This reintroduction follows Coca-Cola’s discontinuation of its Minute Maid frozen juice line, leaving Loblaw’s No Name as a key player in the market. Other frozen juice brands in Canada, like Old South, had been phased out over the years due to declining demand after Lassonde exited the category. With no Canadian manufacturers currently producing frozen juice concentrate, Loblaw sought alternative suppliers after learning of the shortage from existing sources like Coca-Cola.
Frozen juice concentrate, a product with an 80-year history, has seen a decline in popularity over the years as consumer preferences shifted. Despite this trend, Loblaw noted strong consumer demand for the upcoming No Name frozen juice offerings. Prices for the new products will vary by store, with an estimated starting price of around $2.25 for a 283-milliliter container.
While Loblaw leads the charge in reintroducing frozen juice to Canadian shelves, Metro-owned store brands are also exploring options to fill the gap left by discontinued products. Although Metro’s presence is not as widespread across the country, there may be additional frozen drink options available in the near future.
Although Minute Maid was a prominent player in the Canadian frozen juice market, a potential resurgence of a domestic producer could bring hope to consumers, particularly in Newfoundland where frozen juice is a key ingredient in the popular holiday cocktail known as “slush.” The return of frozen juice products is anticipated to bring nostalgia and convenience back to Canadian households.
