Canned, frozen juice from concentrate coming back to Canadian shelves

Canned, frozen juice from concentrate coming back to Canadian shelves

Loblaw bringing category back after last remaining Canadian supplier exited the market

That distinctive "schhhhhlorp" sound could be back in Canadian kitchens soon, as frozen juice is set to return to one of Canada's largest retailers.

Loblaw has confirmed that their yellow and black No Name brand is bringing back frozen concentrated drinks back to their stores across the country.

"The new assortment includes White Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Limeade, Grape Punch, Fruit Punch and Berry Punch," Loblaw spokesperson Rachel Siekanowicz wrote in a statement to CBC News.

The new products are expected before the end of June, though images of the new line of beverages were not available.

The relaunch comes months after Coca-Cola discontinued its Minute Maid line of frozen juices.

At the time, the beverage giant's plant in Peterborough, Ont., was the only producer still selling the concentrated products into the Canadian market.

Other brands of frozen juice in Canada, including Old South, had been discontinued for years after Canadian company Lassonde left the category, saying demand for frozen-from-concentrate juice had waned. After Lassonde left the market, only Coca-Cola remained until early 2026.

Customers still have 'strong demand,' says Loblaw

The upcoming No Name juice will not come from a Canadian supplier, according to Loblaw.

"There is currently no manufacturer producing frozen juice concentrate in Canada," Siekanowicz wrote. She said the company began looking for alternatives as soon as it learned frozen juice would be unavailable through existing suppliers such as Coca-Cola.

Frozen juice concentrate is being discontinued in Canada

Frozen juice from concentrate was invented more than 80 years ago but lost popularity over the decades, in part because juice as a whole lost what beverage analysts call "share of throat."

"Out of all of the cups of juice that Canadians are consuming, only about seven per cent is from frozen concentrate," said Emma Balment, Toronto-based director of market strategy and understanding at market research firm Ipsos, in a January interview with CBC News.

Loblaw said prices for its new products will depend on the store; the company's brands include Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart. The company told CBC News it expects to start pricing around $2.25 for 295 millilitres.

Loblaw's No Name may not be the only version of juice available in the coming months, with a domestic possibility emerging. An industry source told CBC News a Canadian company may be re-entering the frozen juice market, but details aren't avaialble yet.

At a minimum, that could mean relief for many Newfoundlanders before Christmas approaches. The frozen juice cans are an ingredient in "slush," a popular cocktail of the concentrated juice, sugar and alcohol prepared in a bucket around the holiday season.

Anis Heydari is a senior reporter covering business and economics for CBC News. He was a founding producer of CBC Radio's "The Cost of Living" and has also reported for NPR's "The Indicator from Planet Money" and the BBC World Service. He's lived and worked in Edmonton, Edinburgh, southwestern Ontario and Toronto, and is currently based in Calgary. Email him at anis@cbc.ca.