Minute Maid facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1945 (as Florida Foods, Inc.) |
| Headquarters | Sugar Land Town Square First Colony, Sugar Land, Texas, U.S. |
|
Key people
|
J. Alexander M. Douglas Jr. (President of North America Group of Coca-Cola) |
| Products | Fruit juices, soft drinks |
|
Number of employees
|
1,900 |
| Parent | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Subsidiaries | Simply Beverages |
Minute Maid is a well-known American brand that makes many different kinds of drinks. You might know them best for their lemonade or orange juice. But they also make other soft drinks, like Hi-C.
Minute Maid drinks are sold all over the world! In Central Europe, they are called Cappy. In Russia and some nearby countries, they are known as "Моя Семья" (which means "My Family").
Minute Maid was the first company to sell frozen orange juice that you could mix with water. This made it possible for people all over the United States to enjoy orange juice any time of the year. Today, The Minute Maid Company is part of The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola is the biggest seller of fruit juices and drinks in the world!
Minute Maid's main office is in Sugar Land Town Square in Sugar Land, Texas, United States. They moved there on February 16, 2009. Before that, their office was in Houston.
Contents
How Minute Maid Started
Minute Maid began in 1945 as a company called Florida Foods, Inc. Later, its name changed to Vacuum Foods Corporation. The company has many employees, around 1,900 people.
The Story of Minute Maid
In 1945, a company in Boston, Massachusetts, called the National Research Corporation (NRC) found a way to remove water from medical products. This was helpful for the U.S. war effort. The US Army wanted to use this method for food too. So, NRC created a new company called Florida Foods Corporation.
This new company, led by John M. Fox, got a contract from the government. They were asked to make a lot of powdered orange juice for World War II. But the war ended before the factory was even built, and the contract was canceled.
However, with some new money, the company decided to keep going. Instead of selling orange powder, they chose to make frozen orange juice concentrate. This special process removed 80 percent of the water from the juice. A marketing company in Boston came up with the name Minute Maid. This name suggested that the juice was quick and easy to make.
The first Minute Maid products were shipped in April 1946. In the same month, the company changed its name to Vacuum Foods Corporation. They didn't have much money for advertising. So, John Fox himself went door-to-door, giving out free samples. Soon, many people wanted the juice!
In October 1948, a famous singer named Bing Crosby started promoting Minute Maid on his radio show. This helped Minute Maid become even more popular. People loved being able to buy fresh-tasting orange juice all year round, even if they lived far from where oranges grew. This helped the company become successful across the country.
In October 1949, the company changed its name again to Minute Maid Corp. A few years later, in 1954, Minute Maid bought another juice company called Snow Crop.
In 1960, the big company Coca-Cola bought Minute Maid.
Minute Maid moved its main office to Houston, Texas, in 1967. It then joined with another company, Duncan Foods, to become the Coca-Cola Foods division.
In the 1970s, there were concerns about the living and working conditions of Minute Maid farm workers in Florida. The United Farm Workers group helped these workers. News reports also brought attention to the issue. Because of this, Minute Maid started a program to make things better for the workers.
In 1973, Minute Maid started selling its first ready-to-drink, chilled orange juice in the United States. This started a competition with another juice company called Tropicana.
In 1996, the company's name changed from Minute Maid Corp. to The Minute Maid Company.
In 1997, The Coca-Cola Company sold its orange groves in Florida. The United Farm Workers again supported the orange growers during this time.
In 2001, Minute Maid launched the Simply Orange brand. This brand uses a special method to mix juices so that the taste is always the same, no matter the time of year.
In 2002, Minute Maid bought the rights to name the Houston Astros baseball stadium. It was renamed from Enron Field to Minute Maid Park.
In 2003, Minute Maid became a full part of Coca-Cola North America.
Minute Maid Products Around the World
Minute Maid makes many different drinks. Here are some of them, and how they are sold in different countries:
Australia
In Australia, Minute Maid is called Keri Juice Co.
- Keri Apple
- Keri Orange
- Keri Apple Fruity Drink
- Keri Apple & Blackcurrant Fruity Drink
Argentina
Minute Maid is sold as Cepita del Valle.
- Apple, Homemade Apple, Homemade Orange, Multifruta (Mixed Fruit), Orange, Peach, Pineapple
- Aquarius (a type of drink)
- Apple, Grape, Grapefruit, Lemonade, Multifruta, Orange, Pear, Pink Grapefruit
Brazil
- Minute Maid Mais - Del Valle
- Apple, Cashew, Cashew Mango, Grape, Guava, Mango, Orange, Passion fruit, Peach, Homemade Orange
Canada
- Minute Maid 100% Juice
- Pure Squeezed Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Apple Grape, Grapefruit Juice, Fruit Blend, Tropical Orange, and Mixed Berry
- Simply Orange Juice
- Juice Drinks
- Fruit Punch, Berry Punch, Cranberry Punch, Grape Punch, Mango Punch, Orange Guava Punch, Peach Punch, Raspberry Punch, Orange Punch
- Lemonades
- Lemonade, Pink Lemonade
China
In China, it's called 美汁源 (MěiZhīYuán).
- Minute Maid Pulpy (Orange) - This was the first Coca-Cola brand from China to make over a billion dollars!
- Minute Maid Aloe & White Grape Juice
- Minute Maid Red Grape Juice
- Minute Maid Vit.C Lemon
- Minute Maid Super Milky
France
- Minute Maid 100% fruit Juice
- 100% Orange Juice
- 100% Apple Juice
- Red Sensation - a juice with apple, raspberry, and blackcurrant
- Minute Maid Nectar Juice Drink
- Tropical - a juice with orange, apricot, guava, mango, and passion fruit
Dominican Republic
Minute Maid came to the Dominican Republic in December 2007 with orange flavor. Later, they added raspberry, apple, strawberry, pear, and carrot flavors.
Hong Kong
- Minute Maid Pulpy orange juice
- Minute Maid grapefruit juice
- Minute Maid lemonade juice
- Minute Maid aloe vera juice
- Minute Maid apple juice
India
- Minute Maid Pulpy Orange Drink
- Minute Maid Nimbu Drink (Lemon juice)
- Minute Maid Apple
- Minute Maid Mixed Fruit
- Minute Maid Mango
- Minute Maid Mosambi (Sweet Lime)
- Minute Maid 100% - Grape, Apple, Orange
Indonesia
- Minute Maid Pulpy - Juice with orange pulp.
- Orange, O'Mango (Orange and Mango), Tropical (Apple, Mango, Pineapple, Guava, Passion fruit)
- Minute Maid Pulpy Apple Crush - Apple juice with apple bits.
- Minute Maid Pulpy Aloe Vera with White Grape - White Grape juice with aloe.
Japan
- Minute Maid Fruit Plus - Juice drinks like Apple Guava and Lemon Lime.
- Minute Maid Qoo - Orange, Apple, Yoghurt flavors.
- Minute Maid Smoothie - Like Mango Carrot Mix.
- Minute Maid Orange 100%
- Minute Maid Grape 100%
- Minute Maid Morning Jelly - Jelly drinks like Morning Banana.
Kazakhstan
- Minute Maid is sold as "Piko".
[juice/nectar: apple, apricot, peach]
Kenya
- Minute Maid - Mango Orange (a mix of Mango and Orange)
- Minute Maid - Tropical (a mix of tropical fruits)
- Minute Maid Pulpy Orange 100%
Malaysia
- Minute Maid - Pulpy
- Contains pure orange juice and orange pulp.
Mexico
- Del Valle Forte - Fruit Juices and Nectars.
- Apple, Orange, Grape, Peach, Pineapple, Mango, Tomato, 100% Orange Juice, 100% Apple Juice.
- Minute Maid Revita - Fruit Drink.
- Limoné (Lemon), Marandú (Apple, Orange and Peach).
Netherlands
- Minute Maid 100% fruit Juice
- 100% Orange Juice
- 100% Apple Juice
- 100% Tomato Juice
- 100% Multifruits
New Zealand
In New Zealand, Minute Maid is called Keri Juice Co.
- Keri Apple
- Keri Kitchen Pineapple
- Keri Pulpy Pineapple
- Keri Pulpy Orange
Pakistan
Minute Maid came to Pakistan in 2008.
- Minute Maid Pulpy Orange
- Minute Maid Pulpy Tropical
Philippines
- Minute Maid Fresh, ready-to-drink juice
- Minute Maid Pulpy Orange, with real pulp bits
- Minute Maid Pulpy Mango-Orange, with real pulp bits
- Minute Maid Pulpy Four Seasons, with real pulp bits
Romania
Sold as Cappy.
- Cappy Orange
- Cappy Peach
- Cappy Sicilian Red Orange
Russia
Minute Maid is sold as "Моя семья" (meaning "My family"). Minute Maid Pulpy Orange is also sold as "Добрый" (meaning "Kind").
Spain
- Minute Maid AntiOx - Juices with properties that help your body.
- Orange, Raspberry, Pineapple, Blackcurrant
- Minute Maid Clásicos - Juices without added sugar.
- Orange, Peach and grape, Pineapple and grape
- Minute Maid Limón&Nada - Lemonade drink.
- Classic, Mint.
- Minute Maid Selección - Juices and nectars.
- Orange, Tomato, Apple, Pineapple, Peach
United States
- Minute Maid Premium Orange Juice and Premium Blends (Frozen & Refrigerated)
- Original, Country Style, Pulp-Free, Low Acid, Light
- Minute Maid Blends
- Orange Cranberry, Orange Passion, Orange Strawberry Banana
- Minute Maid Premium Lemonades - Juice drinks.
- Country Style Lemonade, Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Limeade, Cherry Limeade, Raspberry Lemonade
- Minute Maid Premium Punches - Juice drinks.
- Fruit Punch, Berry Punch, Tropical Punch, Citrus Punch, Grape Punch
- Minute Maid Juice Box - 100% juice drink.
- Apple Juice, Fruit Punch, Grape, Orange Tropical, Orange, Mixed Berry, Lemonade
- Minute Maid Juice To Go - Juice drinks in plastic bottles for easy carrying.
- Apple, Apple Cranberry, Fruit Punch, Grape, Orange
- Minute Maid Enhanced - Drinks with natural energy boosts.
- Minute Maid Lemonades and Fruit Drinks
- Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Limeade, Fruit Punch
- Minute Maid Light - Low calorie fruit drinks.
- Lemonade, Raspberry Passion, Mango Tropical
- Minute Maid Multi-Vitamin - Orange juice with extra vitamins.
- Minute Maid Premium Juices & Cocktails
- Apple Juice, Grape Juice Cocktail, Ruby Red Grapefruit Blend
- Disney Hundred Acre Wood 100% Juice Beverages
- Apple Strawberry, Apple Grape
- Minute Maid Soft Drinks
- Orange, Diet Orange, Lemon Lime, Grape, Fruit Punch, Strawberry
- Simply Orange - Juices that are not made from concentrate.
- Simply Orange: Grove Made (with lots of pulp), Original (no pulp), With Mango, With Pineapple
- Simply Lemonade, Simply Lemonade With Raspberry
- Simply Limeade
- Simply Grapefruit
- Simply Apple
- Minute Maid Aguas Frescas - Drinks inspired by Latin American flavors.
- Strawberry, hibiscus, mango, pineapple horchata.
Taiwan
- Minute Maid Pulpy orange juice
- Minute Maid grapefruit juice
- Minute Maid lemonade juice
- Minute Maid grape aloe vera juice
- Minute Maid apple aloe vera juice
Vietnam
- Minute Maid Teppy Orange Drink - Orange Juice drink made from concentrate.
Mongolia
- Minute Maid Punch Honey pear
- Minute Maid Punch Apple
- Minute Maid Grape
- Minute Maid Orange
- Minute Maid Pulpy Orange
- Minute Maid Pineapple
Other Drinks and Products
Minute Maid is also connected to other popular drinks and products:
- Bibo
- Hi-C
- Bacardi Mixers
- Odwalla Beverages
- Qoo
- Fairlife Milk
- Five Alive Citrus Beverages
- Bright & Early Breakfast Beverages
- Minute Maid Frozen Fruit Bars
- Minute Maid Deli
- Minute Maid Fresh
- Minute Maid Soft Drink (mostly replaced by Coca-Cola's Fanta drinks)
- Minute Maid Splash
Product Updates
In September 2024, Coca-Cola had to recall some Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade. This was because some bottles that were supposed to have no sugar actually contained sugar by mistake.
Minute Maid Headquarters
Minute Maid's first offices were in New York. On October 20, 1957, the company announced that its main office would move to a new building in Orlando, Florida.
Minute Maid's current headquarters is in an office building in the Sugar Land Town Square in Sugar Land, Texas.
In 1985, The Coca-Cola Company bought a building in Houston for Minute Maid. Minute Maid moved into that building the next year.
In 2007, Coca-Cola decided to sell that building and look for a new place. In January 2008, Minute Maid announced it would move its headquarters to Sugar Land. The new office building in Sugar Land opened on February 16, 2009. The city of Sugar Land even gave the company some money to help them move there.
However, on March 6, 2021, Coca-Cola announced that it was closing Minute Maid's office in Sugar Land. The company decided to combine Minute Maid's operations with Coca-Cola's main office in Atlanta, Georgia.
See also
In Spanish: Minute Maid para niños
