About Lassonde Industries

Lassonde Industries Inc. develops, produces and markets a range of ready-to-drink juices and drinks, and frozen juice concentrates in North America. The company produces store brand shelf-stable fruit juices and drinks in the United States and cranberry sauces. It also develops, produces and markets specialty food products, such as fondue broths and sauces and pasta sauces. The company also imports selected wines from various countries of origin for packaging and marketing purposes and also produces apple ciders and cider-based beverages. Segments The company operates through two segments, Retail and Food Service. Retail: This segment consists of sales to food retailers and wholesalers, such as supermarket chains, independent grocers, superstores, warehouse clubs, and major pharmacy chains and online sales. Food Service: This segment consists of sales to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools and wholesalers serving these institutions. The national brands of the company are sold in various packages under various trademarks owned by it, such as Antico, Apple & Eve, Arte Nova, Bombay, Canton, Double Vie, Dublin’s Pub, Everfresh, Fairlee, Fruité, Grown Right, Kiju, MontRouge, Northland, Oasis, Old Orchard, Orange Maison, Rougemont, Ruby Kist, Sun-Rype, The Switch, Tropical Grove, as well as under trademarks for which it has user rights, such as Allen’s, Arizona, Del Monte, Graves, Nature’s Best and Tetley. Products manufactured by the company, such as pure juices, fruit drinks, frozen juice concentrates, cranberry sauces, fruit-based snacks, pasta sauces, bruschetta toppings, tapenades and pestos are sold in the retail market under store brands of food retailers and wholesalers. It also manufactures certain of these products under co-packing arrangements for owners of major brands. Product distribution within the retail market is carried out by the company’s sales team and food brokers. Their responsibilities include ensuring that the company’s products obtain choice positioning in retail stores and food service businesses, as well as good and sustained promotional support. Distribution of certain products outside North America is done through food brokers. Seasonality The company packages cranberry sauce and engages in cranberry and apple pressing. The pressing process runs primarily from August to November. This seasonal processing increases inventory levels of cranberries and apples during the last quarter of the year (year ended December 31, 2019). Cranberry sauce is sold primarily from September 15 to November 30 and the inventory level of cranberry sauce is at its highest in mid to late September. Competition Canada: The company competes with various regional, national and international firms, such as Tropicana, Minute Maid, Simply Orange and Ocean Spray, and large corporations, such as Refresco Beverages. The United States: The company competes with suppliers of private label juices, such as Refresco Beverages, and also with various regional, national and international firms that provide branded products, including brands, such as Ocean Spray, V8, Capri Sun, Kool Aid, Mott’s, Welch’s and Minute Maid. History Lassonde Industries Inc. was founded in 1918. The company was incorporated in 1981.