Ocean Spray broadens Canadian distribution deal
Klass Ingredients Canada will distribute Ocean Spray’s portfolio of sweetened dried cranberries, berry fusions, frozen cranberries, cranberry concentrates and purees in Ontario, Quebec and The Maritimes.
Neither company was available for comment at the time for publication.
The two companies have worked together dating back to the 1980s and this had contributed to Ocean Spray growth, Ocean Spray said.
“Our business has experienced exceptional growth in Eastern Canada in recent years,” said Kristen Borsari, global senior marketing manager at Ocean Spray. “This is largely due to the dedicated support we receive from Klass Ingredients Canada and we are delighted to extend our partnership to encourage further market development and offer our customers a quality service.”
Klass’s account executive, Cristi Oczek, said: “We have seen tremendous success over the past several years with Ocean Spray cranberry ingredients in the Canadian marketplace. We look forward to further building our business in the coming years and helping our customers succeed in their quest to innovate with cranberries.”
Supply
According to the Cranberry Marketing Committee there are 33 suppliers of cranberries, all based in the United States. Growing awareness of the berries has led to increased demand from food and beverage manufacturers and supplement companies for the berry, its juice, and its extracts.
The supply is dominated by Ocean Spray, which produces over half of the nine million barrels of cranberries harvested annually in North America. Second place in the market goes to Decas. The two firms, both based in Massachusetts, together account for around 70 per cent of the North American cranberry market. Decas estimates that it holds about 10 per cent of the market, while Ocean Spray has over 60 per cent.
