Which company did Starbucks buy in 2011 to enter the chilled juice business?

Starbucks bought Evolution Fresh in 2011 to enter the chilled juice business.

Evolution Fresh was founded by Jimmy Rosenberg and became known for cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Starbucks announced its acquisition in November 2011, paying about $30 million for the company.

The purchase supported Starbucks’ strategy of expanding beyond coffee and tea. Evolution Fresh products appeared in grocery and café channels, and Starbucks later developed Evolution Fresh retail stores and juice offerings. The brand was positioned around fresh ingredients and refrigerated beverages rather than roasted coffee.

Evolution Fresh is sometimes confused with PepsiCo’s Naked Juice or Coca-Cola’s Odwalla. Those were separate juice brands. Starbucks’ own juice acquisition was Evolution Fresh, which it later sold to Bolthouse Farms in 2022.