Starbucks acquired Evolution Fresh in 2011.
The acquisition was announced in November 2011, when Starbucks purchased the California juice company for approximately $30 million in cash. Evolution Fresh was known for premium cold-pressed juices and used high-pressure processing to extend shelf life without relying on conventional heat pasteurization.
Starbucks saw the deal as a way to expand beyond coffee and enter the fast-growing premium juice market. The company discussed developing standalone juice bars and began distributing Evolution Fresh products through Starbucks stores. A production and bottling facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California, later supported wider distribution.
The year is sometimes confused with 2012 because Starbucks developed and expanded Evolution Fresh operations during that year, including work on its bottling infrastructure. However, the acquisition itself occurred in 2011. Evolution Fresh eventually left Starbucks' portfolio when it was sold to Bolthouse Farms in 2022, but that later transaction does not change the original acquisition year.