While older descriptions characterise Old Orchard as family-owned and operated, Old Orchard Brands became part of the Canadian food-and-beverage group Lassonde Industries following its acquisition in 2018.[1]

Founding

Old Orchard began operations in Sparta, Michigan, in 1985. Fourth-generation growers Mark and Lisa Saur founded the company on a site associated with an old apple orchard, initially focusing on fruit juice production, particularly frozen apple juice concentrate.[1]

The choice of Sparta was significant to the company’s identity. Western Michigan has a strong agricultural and fruit-growing tradition, and Old Orchard built its brand around this connection to the land and its Michigan roots. During its early years, the company primarily produced frozen juice concentrates, especially apple-based products, before subsequently expanding its range of frozen blends and moving into ready-to-drink beverages.[2]

Expansion into bottled juice

A major turning point occurred in the late 1990s when Old Orchard expanded beyond frozen concentrates into bottled, shelf-stable beverages. The company began producing bottled juice products in 1997–1998, eventually developing its own bottling capabilities in Michigan.[3]

This transition allowed Old Orchard to compete in a larger portion of the American juice market. Instead of being primarily associated with frozen cans of concentrate, the brand became increasingly recognisable for 64-ounce shelf-stable bottles and a broad selection of juice blends. The product strategy also evolved from traditional single-fruit juices toward combinations such as apple-kiwi-strawberry, apple-raspberry, and apple-passion-mango.[2]

Product diversification

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Old Orchard continued to expand its portfolio. Product development included:

• 100% fruit juices
• Juice cocktails
• Reduced-sugar beverages
• Organic juices
• Cranberry beverages
• Kids’ juices
• Frozen juice concentrates
• Seasonal drinks
• Specialty and functional-oriented juice products

Corporate records note milestones including the expansion of shelf-stable juice, the development of the Healthy Balance line, the introduction of Old Orchard Kids in 2013, organic juice in 2016, and cranberry and grape cocktail products in 2017.

In April 2018, Canadian food-and-beverage company Lassonde Industries announced an agreement to acquire Old Orchard Brands for approximately US$146 million.[4]

The acquisition provided Lassonde with a stronger presence in the US juice market while giving Old Orchard access to the resources and broader platform of a large international food-and-beverage company. Old Orchard remains associated with Sparta, Michigan, where its manufacturing and distribution operations are located.[1]

Old Orchard has developed a broad juice portfolio. Current product categories include:

• 100% Juice
• Immune Health 100% Juice Blends
• Cranberry Cocktails
• Healthy Balance
• Juice Cocktails
• Kids
• Organics
• Seasonal Juice Drinks
• Frozen 100% Juice
• Frozen Mixers
• Frozen Seasonal Drinks
• Harvest Select Frozen Concentrates
• Limited Edition products
• Low-calorie and low-carbohydrate products[1]

100% Juice

A key segment is the 100% Juice range. These products contain no added sugar or sweeteners and are not diluted with water.[1] Examples include:

• Apple
• Apple Cranberry
• Berry Blend
• Black Cherry Cranberry
• Blueberry Pomegranate
• Cranberry Pomegranate
• Grape
• Kiwi Strawberry
• Orange
• Peach Mango
• Red Raspberry
• Strawberry Watermelon
• Tart Cherry
• White Grape
• Wild Cherry[1]

Apple products

Apple remains central to the Old Orchard identity due to the company’s origins in an apple-growing region. The current apple portfolio includes 100% Apple Juice, Organic Apple Juice, Healthy Balance Apple, Apple Juice Cocktails, Apple Cranberry, Apple Cherry, Apple Kiwi Strawberry, Apple Peach Mango, Apple Raspberry, and several other apple-based combinations.[1]

Old Orchard states that its juices are blended from scratch at its Michigan facility. The production process involves combining fruit juices and other ingredients according to specific formulations before undergoing quality testing and heat pasteurisation.[1]

The Sparta operation includes a large automated manufacturing and distribution facility spanning approximately 140,000 square feet with automated packaging capabilities.[1] Products undergo ingredient and finished-product testing through the company’s Quality Assurance operation, and the facility maintains food safety certifications.[1]

Although Old Orchard has Michigan roots, the company does not rely exclusively on Michigan-grown fruit. It works with fruit suppliers globally to obtain different varieties of juice ingredients. This enables the production of blends involving fruits such as mango, kiwi, acai, passion fruit, and pomegranate, which are not necessarily grown commercially in Michigan.[1]

Consequently, “Michigan-made” refers primarily to the production and blending operation rather than indicating that every fruit used is grown in Michigan.

Old Orchard is positioned as a provider of family-oriented, accessible fruit beverages with a wide variety of flavours and formats. Key branding themes include:

• Family heritage: The company frequently emphasises its origins as a family-founded business and uses the concept of bringing products “from our family to yours.”[1]
• Value: Old Orchard has historically positioned many products as affordable alternatives within the juice category, including organic and better-for-you options intended to remain accessible to families.
• Variety: Rather than focusing exclusively on traditional orange or apple juice, the brand offers numerous fruit combinations and specialty beverages.
• Michigan manufacturing: The brand maintains a strong connection to Sparta and Michigan, even though many fruit ingredients are sourced internationally.[1]

Food safety is a prominent aspect of Old Orchard’s corporate messaging. The manufacturing operation follows FDA requirements and uses heat pasteurisation to ensure product stability and safety.[1]

The facility holds Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, and products meet requirements associated with organic and Kosher production.[1] The company states that its facility does not use wheat gluten or imported wheat-based products in manufacturing, and products do not contain the eight major allergens listed in its food safety statement.

Old Orchard participates in the health-conscious consumption market. Its organic range includes USDA-certified organic 100% juices, developed with simple formulations and without added sugar. Certain organic products have also received Non-GMO Project verification.[5]

Additionally, the Healthy Balance line is positioned as a reduced-sugar option, occupying a space between conventional family juice products and more health-oriented beverage offerings.

Old Orchard products are primarily sold through major grocery retailers in the United States, although available products and flavours vary by retailer and region. The company also states that its products are distributed internationally.[1]

The combination of shelf-stable bottles, frozen concentrates, and various product sizes provides multiple routes into the retail market.

Beyond consumer products, Old Orchard supplies bulk juice concentrates to the beverage industry. Its craft-concentrate business provides fruit concentrates and blends to producers in sectors including:

• Beer
• Cider
• Wine
• Seltzer
• Spirits
• Mead
• Kombucha
• Other beverages and food products

The company describes itself as a “Blending Experts” supplier and has supplied juice concentrates since its founding in 1985, although its dedicated bulk programme was developed more recently.[6] Thus, Old Orchard operates as both a consumer-facing juice brand and a B2B ingredient and beverage-blending supplier.

Old Orchard represents a transition from a small Michigan fruit-growing operation into a nationally distributed beverage company. Its evolution can be summarised as:

1985 → Frozen apple juice concentrate → Frozen fruit blends → Bottled juices → 100% and specialty juices → Organic/better-for-you products → B2B concentrates → Part of Lassonde

The brand’s enduring identity is built around three major concepts: fruit, family heritage, and juice blending expertise.

Old Orchard occupies a distinctive position in the US juice market. It is neither a premium luxury juice brand nor simply a commodity apple juice producer. Instead, it competes through a combination of:

• Broad flavour selection
• Multiple product formats
• Competitive pricing
• 100% juice options
• Reduced-sugar products
• Organic options
• Family-oriented branding
• Frozen concentrate expertise
• Large-scale manufacturing

The company’s longevity is notable, having operated since 1985, while its bottled juice business dates to the late 1990s.[1]

Old Orchard is a Michigan-founded American juice brand that grew from frozen apple concentrate into a diversified fruit beverage company. Its products span traditional juices, fruit blends, organic beverages, children’s products, reduced-sugar offerings, and frozen concentrates, while parent company Lassonde Industries places it within a larger international food-and-beverage organisation.[1]

The brand’s historical connection to an old apple orchard in Sparta remains central to its story, even as the company has expanded far beyond apples and Michigan-grown fruit. Its current portfolio reflects an evolution from a regional frozen juice producer into a broad beverage business with products sold across the United States and internationally.[1]

1. Old Orchard Juices – Our Story
2. Old Orchard Brands, LLC | Encyclopedia.com
3. Old Orchard Brands® Celebrates 20 Years Of Bottling The Best Fruit Juice On The Market
4. Old Orchard Brands
5. New Line: Old Orchard 100% Organic Juices | Old Orchard Brands
6. https://www.win.oldorchard.com