Overview
Capri-Sun is a brand of juice concentrate drinks based in Germany and Switzerland. Invented by Rudolf Wild, it was introduced in West Germany in 1969 by his company as Capri-Sonne (a name retired in favor of the English name in 2017). It is now sold in over 100 countries, with licensees including Kraft Foods in the United States (as Capri Sun) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in parts of Europe. , roughly 7 billion pouches are sold per year, making it one of the few globally prominent soft drinks not originating from the United States.
Since its launch, Capri-Sun has been packaged in laminated foil vacuum Doy-N-Pack pouches, with which the brand has become strongly associated. In the United States, these pouches were innovative as the first single-serving fruit juice containers. The pouch design has stayed largely the same, but changes in some markets have included transparent bottoms and paper straws, while other container types have been introduced for some products. Capri-Sun is available in varying ranges of flavors in different countries, targeting different national flavor profiles. Globally, its best-known flavor is Orange.
Capri-Sun's main products are high in sugar content, although lower than many competitors. Characterizations of the juice drinks as "all-natural" have led to conflict in several countries between consumer advocates who highlight the high sugar content and low juice percentage, and Capri-Sun and its licensees, who in most cases have maintained that the term correctly describes the ingredients. In the United States, Capri Sun Inc. was owned by tobacco conglomerate Philip Morris Cos. ( Altria) from 1991 to 2007. Prohibited from selling tobacco to children, Philip Morris executives applied their experience to sugary drinks including Capri Sun, adding the pouches to Lunchables and advertising them through a "California cool" aesthetic. Kraft continued to use Philip Morris's techniques after it became independent in 2007.
Capri Sun is one of the most favorably rated brands in the United States among Generation Z. About a third of American parents view the drink as healthy. In France, Capri-Sun has figured prominently in rap songs and has been noted as a drink of choice in poor areas.
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