INDIA. Ocean Spray – the marketing cooperative of cranberry farmers in the US and Canada and the world’s top cranberry producer – is looking to move into the Indian market to promote the benefits of cranberry as a natural remedy for urinary tract infections and stomach ulcers following the growing rates of urinary tract infections in the country.

The Ocean Spray chairman Peter Povitar Dhillon, after a recent trip to India, said: “We went to India to explore opportunities of doing business there. As a global company, we recognise the huge potential of the Indian marketplace. India has the fastest growing middle class and it is the world’s youngest country in terms of the age of its people. It was a very positive trip. Now we are thinking about the best ways to educate Indians about the unique benefits of cranberry,”  Source: Fresh Plaza

CHINA

SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc. the producer of fruit juice concentrates, fruit juice beverages and other fruit-related products, announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 was USD34.4 million, a decrease of 60%, as compared to USD86.4 million for fiscal 2015.

Sales from concentrated apple juice and apple aroma were USD7.7 million for fiscal 2016, a 61% decrease from sales of USD19.8 million for fiscal 2015 due primarily to a drop in International demand for concentrated apple juice from China.

Sales from concentrated kiwifruit juice and kiwifruit puree were USD0.7 million for fiscal 2016, a 92% decrease from sales of USD9.2 million in fiscal 2015.

Sales of concentrated pear juice were USD9.3 million in fiscal 2016, a 31% decrease from sales of USD13.4 million in fiscal 2015. Due to unexpected weather conditions in the 2015 pear harvest season, the amount of available raw material supplies was low in early 2016 resulting in the squeezing season starting later than usual leading to lower production levels.

Sales from the fruit juice beverages segment were USD14.8 million in fiscal 2016, a 66% decrease from sales of USD44.0 million for fiscal 2015. The decline in revenues was primarily due to a decrease in the in-store demand as a result of heavy competition in the Chinese market as consumers increased their fruit juice beverage purchases through the on-line home delivery of groceries instead of through the traditional in-store supermarkets in which SkyPeople sell their products.

POMEGRANATE JUICE

A recent study by the journal of Pharmacological Research entitled ‘Effects of pomegranate juice on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials’ looked at the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in those who were either drinking pomegranate juice or not drinking it. A meta-analysis of eight randomized placebo controlled studies (the gold standard in terms of investigational clinical research) found that drinking pomegranate juice reduced systolic blood pressure by nearly 5mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure by 2 mmHg.

USA

Juice It Up! the US based raw juice and smoothie bars chain announced same-store first quarter sales increased 5% over Q1 the previous year. This marks Juice It Up!’s fifth consecutive growth quarter, despite continuing declines throughout the US restaurant industry overall.

The increase is a result of a variety of factors, including continued demand by consumers wanting fresh and healthy ingredients, along with the launch of Juice It Up!’s brand new Cold Pressed Bottled Juice line. The line features six great-tasting flavours sold individually and available in Wellness packs, ideal for a one- to three-day cleanse. Also, attributing to the strong financials were the nine new franchised locations that opened in 2016 through Q1 of 2017, bringing the chain wide total to 89 units operating across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon & Texas. Source: QSR