The Coca-Cola Company acquired Minute Maid in 1960 to expand into the juice business.
Minute Maid began with a concentrated orange-juice product developed after the Second World War. The technology allowed orange juice to be frozen and concentrated, making it easier to transport and store than ordinary fresh juice. The brand became established in the United States before Coca-Cola purchased the Minute Maid Corporation.
The acquisition broadened Coca-Cola beyond carbonated soft drinks and gave it a major presence in packaged fruit beverages. Minute Maid later became part of Coca-Cola’s larger juice and beverage portfolio, with products varying by market.
This acquisition is often confused with Coca-Cola’s later purchases of other juice brands. Tropicana, for example, was associated with PepsiCo rather than Coca-Cola. Minute Maid is the specific brand linked to Coca-Cola’s 1960 entry into the juice category.