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Coca-Cola is ending sales of Minute Maid frozen juice concentrates in the United States and Canada, closing a long chapter for a product that helped make orange juice a daily habit for millions of families.

The company said the move reflects changing tastes, as shoppers now choose fresh and ready-to-drink juices over frozen cans.

According to NBC News, in a statement released Wednesday, Coca-Cola said it is "discontinuing our frozen products and exiting the frozen can category in response to shifting consumer preferences."

The company added that it plans to focus on juices that better match what customers want today.

Minute Maid frozen juices, including orange juice, lemonade, and limeade, will be phased out by April, with remaining stock sold while supplies last.

Minute Maid's frozen concentrate has deep roots in American kitchens. The product first appeared in 1946, when Vacuum Foods Corp. began shipping frozen orange juice across the country.

The brand name Minute Maid soon became well known, and the company later adopted it as its own name.

For decades, families opened small cans, dropped the frozen juice into a pitcher, added water, and stirred. It was quick, affordable, and felt almost magical at breakfast time.

Ready-to-Drink Juices Replace Frozen Minute Maid

Coca-Cola bought Minute Maid in 1960 and continued to grow the brand. In 1973, Minute Maid launched ready-to-drink orange juice sold in the refrigerator case, which removed the need for mixing.

Over time, lemonade, limeade, and fruit punch joined the lineup. These newer products slowly took the spotlight as shopping habits changed.

In recent years, frozen juice has struggled. Shoppers have turned to energy drinks, protein shakes, and smoothies instead of traditional juice.

Prices have also climbed due to poor weather affecting orange crops in Brazil and Florida.

By December, a 12-ounce can of frozen orange juice cost an average of $4.82, up 13% from the year before, according to US data, CBS News reported.

At the same time, many consumers began questioning sugar levels in juice. Minute Maid answered with zero-sugar fresh juices in 2020, but frozen products continued to lose ground.

Market data shows the trend clearly. US sales of frozen beverages dropped nearly 8% in the year ending Jan. 24, according to NielsenIQ. Coca-Cola said the overall juice category is still growing, just not in the freezer aisle.