Sun-Rype facts for kids
Sun-Rype corporate logo
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| Private | |
| Industry | Food and beverage |
| Founded | May 13, 1946 |
| Founder | BC Fruit Growers Association |
| Headquarters | 1165 Ethel Street Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 2W4 |
| Products | Juice, Fruit snacks, Snacks, Cider, Sparkling tea |
| Revenue | |
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Number of employees
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395 (2006) |
| Parent | Lassonde Industries, Inc. |
Sun-Rype Products Ltd. is a company from Western Canada that makes yummy fruit juices and snacks. They started way back in 1946 in a place called Kelowna, British Columbia. This area, known as the Okanagan, is famous for its fruit!
Contents
The Story of Sun-Rype
Sun-Rype began on May 13, 1946, but it was first called BC Fruit Processing Ltd.. It was started by the BC Fruit Growers Association. They wanted to use apples that weren't perfect for selling fresh. Instead of throwing them away, they turned them into juice! This was a smart way to use all the fruit. After 13 years, on April 2, 1959, the company changed its name to Sun-Rype Products Ltd.
In 1963, Sun-Rype worked with a milk company to deliver juice cartons on milk routes in Vancouver. This made it easier for people to get their juice. In 1979, Sun-Rype was the first juice company in Canada to use special Tetra Pak cartons. These cartons keep juice fresh for a long time. They also created a large 6-litre "bag in a box" package in 1992. Over the years, Sun-Rype has made many different sizes and types of juice containers. Their factory in Kelowna also makes a variety of tasty snack products.
In 1996, Sun-Rype celebrated 50 years of making fruit products. The mayor of Kelowna, Jim Stuart, even declared May 13, 1996, "Sun-Rype Day" to honor this special event!
Trying to Grow Big: China Plans
In 1994, Sun-Rype had a big idea: they wanted to sell their juices in China! They planned to build a factory there and start selling by the end of 1995. Sun-Rype invested a lot of money in this project.
However, this plan faced many challenges. By 1997, Sun-Rype had to team up with a large company from Malaysia called Lion Group. Even with this new partnership, the business in China wasn't making money. So, in March 1998, Sun-Rype decided to leave the Chinese market. They learned a lot from this experience, even though it meant losing some money.
A Company Fight: Takeover Attempt
In 1996, another company called Clearly Canadian Beverage Corporation tried to buy Sun-Rype. This is called a "hostile takeover" because Sun-Rype didn't want to be bought. Clearly Canadian wanted to use Sun-Rype's factories and make more money.
Sun-Rype was a special kind of company back then. Many of its owners were local apple growers who had received shares for their fruit. Clearly Canadian started buying these shares from the growers. Sun-Rype's leaders and the BC Fruit Growers Association told their owners not to sell. Both companies sent out information, but some of it wasn't quite right. The British Columbia Securities Commission had to step in and tell them to correct their statements.
Clearly Canadian kept trying to buy shares, but Sun-Rype fought hard to stay independent. They spent a lot of money to stop the takeover. In the end, Sun-Rype won and remained its own company!
Becoming a Public Company
The fight to stay independent showed that some owners were not happy with how Sun-Rype was being run. Because of this, Sun-Rype decided to become a "public company" on November 12, 1996. This meant their shares could be bought and sold on the Toronto Stock Exchange. They used the money they raised to pay off debts and help with their plans in China.
Back to Being Private
In September 2013, Sun-Rype Products Ltd. became a private company again. It was bought by a large company called the Jim Pattison Group.
Joining the Lassonde Family
On October 29, 2019, the Jim Pattison Group sold Sun-Rype to another big company called Lassonde Industries Inc.. This was a big deal, worth about $80 million. Sun-Rype continues to make its popular juices and snacks as part of the Lassonde family of brands.
Sun-Rype Products
Juices and Drinks
Sun-Rype's most famous product is its apple juice, often called "Blue Label" apple juice. It's made from apples and is not from concentrate. Sun-Rype was also one of the first companies to mix fruit and vegetable juices together!
Snacks for On-the-Go
In the early 1990s, Sun-Rype started making snack foods. They launched "Fruit to Go," which is a 100% fruit snack made from fruit juices and purees. Later, they introduced "FruitSource" bars. Sun-Rype has also created bars with new ingredients like oats, seeds, protein, and even chocolate! Since 2016, Sun-Rype has focused on making snacks that are gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, and kosher. They also released "Good Bites," which are snacks made with dates.
New Drinks: Cider and Sparkling Tea
In 2017, Sun-Rype started selling cider under its own brand name in British Columbia and Alberta. They also launched a new line of iced teas in tall cans, called Sun-Rype Sparkling Tea.
