Ocean Spray introduces plastic single-serve bottles in first quarter 2000

Please be aware that 16 oz. OSC single-serve plastic product will not be available until after January 1, 2000.

By converting its single-serve line to plastic, Ocean Spray is leading the industry as the first brand to offer juice drinks in plastic nationwide. The conversion to portable plastic bottles opens up more business opportunities in vending, schools and recreational venues.

Ocean Spray will begin shipping plastic single-serve bottles in the first quarter of 2000. A new cap and label, sampling events and an integrated public relations, advertising and promotion program supports the roll out. The new bottles will be priced competitively in the single-serve category.

Ocean Spray continues to improve products by listening to consumers through feedback from the Consumer Affairs Department. In addition, results of a national survey indicated that consumers prefer plastic bottles 3-to-1 over glass.

Converting to the recyclable plastic packaging opens new markets for the cooperative and positions Ocean Spray as the technology leader in the juice category. The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle keeps the juice fresh with five layers of plastic. The bottles have a wide mouth for easier drinking and fit in standard car cup holders, meeting all the consumer’s needs. Other benefits of the PET bottles include resealability, lightweight, transparency and shatter resistance. The new, kid-friendly bottles give Ocean Spray greater access to people who love the taste of Ocean Spray juice through vending, schools and recreational venues.

With the conversion of the single-serve line, 95 percent of Ocean Spray products will be in plastic bottles. The only products remaining in glass are 10- and 32-ounce bottles.

As you may recall, Standard and Poor’s lowered Ocean Spray Cranberries rating from a single A+ to a single A last June. Moody’s Investor’s Service, like S&P, provides independent credit ratings, research and financial information to business and industry. In view of recent speculation and publicity around Ocean Spray’s business condition, Moody’s has placed Ocean Spray’s debt rating under review.

This review may or may not result in a lower rating for Ocean Spray. Ocean Spray will be meeting with officials from Moody within the next few weeks to discuss this business. If it turns out that our rating is lowered Ocean Spray would remain on par with some of the strongest, most financially stable companies in the market. This will not affect the ability of Ocean Spray to fully fund the efforts already under way to strengthen our position in the market.

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