**History and Growth:**
– Ocean Spray was founded in 1930 in Hanson, Massachusetts by three cranberry growers.
– Introduced Cranberry Juice Cocktail in 1930 and Cranapple juice in 1963.
– Expanded membership to grapefruit growers in Florida in 1976.
– Headquarters moved to current location in 1989.
– Sales reached $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2013.
**Innovations and Products:**
– Introduced the first juice blend and pioneered juice boxes.
– Created sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins).
– Cranberry juice won the ChefsBest Award for best taste.
– Product range includes cranberry sauce, fruit juices, fruit snacks, and dried cranberries.
**Expansion and Acquisitions:**
– Members declined a joint venture with PepsiCo in 2004.
– Signed a 25-year juice distribution deal with Pepsi in 2006.
– Acquired Northland Cranberry’s processing assets in 2004.
– Expanded the Wisconsin Rapids processing plant in 2008, becoming the world’s largest cranberry processing facility.
**Controversies and Legal Issues:**
– Ended support for animal experiments at PETA’s request in 2006.
– Settled a class-action lawsuit in January 2020 for misleading advertising.
– CEO Bobby Chacko was dismissed in February 2020 for policy violations.
– Legal case involving Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc.
**Media Presence and Partnerships:**
– Gained media attention in 2020 due to a viral TikTok video featuring Fleetwood Mac’s song ‘Dreams.’
– Has juice-filling facilities in various U.S. locations.
– Contributed to a campaign against mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods in 2012.
– Collaborations with companies like Wilson Sporting Goods and Ekaterra.
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. is an American agricultural cooperative of growers of cranberries headquartered in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It currently has over 700 member growers (in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Florida, British Columbia and other parts of Canada, as well as Chile). The cooperative employs about 2,000 people, with sales of $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2013 and accounts for 70% of North American cranberry production. Their products include cranberry sauce, fruit juices, fruit snacks, and dried cranberries.
 | |
| Company type | Agricultural cooperative |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 in Hanson, Massachusetts |
| Founders | Elizabeth Lee, John Makepeace, and Marcus Urann |
| Headquarters | Lakeville-Middleborough, Massachusetts , United States |
Key people | Tom Hayes, President and CEO |
| Products | Cranberries, grapefruit |
| Website | oceanspray.com |
The cooperative has made a number of innovations, including the first juice blend, the first juice boxes, and sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins). Its cranberry juice won the ChefsBest Award for best taste.