Multinational coffee company Starbucks is set to expand distribution of its Evolution Fresh-branded juices and smoothies across the whole of the US, as well as introducing a new line of fruit snack products under the name Evolution Harvest, after retailer Whole Foods Market agreed to stock the products.
Supplied by Starbucks' subsidiary Evolution Fresh, the juice marketer it acquired in 2011, the juices and snacks will be available in approximately 8,000 Starbucks and grocery locations by the end of the year, the group said.
'We've received enthusiastic customer support in every market where we've introduced Evolution Fresh juice, and have been working toward our goal of national distribution since the acquisition,' commented Chris Bruzzo, senior vice-president for channel brand management at Starbucks and general manager of Evolution Fresh.
Whole Foods Market will sell 12 of Evolution Fresh's best-selling juices as well as two exclusive juices - Organic Ruby Roots and Organic Sweet Burn - in addition to three Evolution Harvest snack bars.
According to Starbucks, the juices are cold-pressed and never heated, using high pressure processing to deliver more flavour, vitamins and nutrients from raw fruits and vegetables than traditional heat-pasteurised juices.
'Delivering on the brand's commitment to provide accessible nutrition, all green vegetable juices in the brand portfolio now include kale,' it added.
The Evolution Harvest range, meanwhile, includes bars, trail mixes and fruit snacks 'made with real ingredients'.
By early September, Evolution Harvest Bars will be available in Starbucks stores in all major urban centres across the US.
Freeze-dried Fruit will also be sold at Starbucks branches from the end of September, with Evolution Harvest trail mixes – a combination of nuts, seeds and dried fruit, arriving in October.
