Is Snapple Whipper Snapple Discontinued? What Happened?
Fate: Whipper Snapple launched in spring 1998 and sold well enough to win trade awards in its first year. New flavors were added in 1999. The line was phased out in the early 2000s as the market for shelf-stable smoothies cooled off.
Whipper Snapple was a line of fruit smoothies that Snapple launched in the spring of 1998. The drinks were thick and fruity with a small amount of dairy mixed in, which gave them a creamy texture. They came in 10-ounce bottles and did not need to be refrigerated. You could drink one straight from the bottle without a blender, which was part of the appeal.
The flavors in the original lineup included Strawberry Banana, Orange Dream, and Peach Mango. The bottles used Snapple's well-known style and the drinks were priced at around 99 cents, making them an affordable grab-and-go option.
The launch went well. In the first eight months, Whipper Snapple sold close to three million cases. The line also won two industry awards in 1998: Convenience Store News named it the New Beverage Product of the Year, and it received an AMA Edison Award. Press coverage at the time highlighted how the thick, smoothie-like texture was something new in a ready-to-drink bottle.
Snapple added more flavors in 1999 and kept pushing the line into more stores. But the smoothie category got crowded fast. Other brands moved in with their own versions, tastes shifted toward lighter drinks and flavored waters, and Whipper Snapple gradually became harder to find.
By the early 2000s the line had been discontinued. It is remembered fondly by people who tried it in the late 1990s, mostly for the thick texture and the novelty of a bottled smoothie at a time when that was still a new idea.
Timeline
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1998
- Whipper Snapple launches nationally in spring 1998 with six flavors. The drinks are shelf-stable fruit smoothies with a hint of dairy, priced around 99 cents.
- Wins two industry awards: Convenience Store News New Beverage Product of the Year and an AMA Edison Award. Nearly three million cases are sold in the first eight months.
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1999
- Snapple adds new flavors and continues pushing the line into more stores.
-
Early 2000s
- The line is phased out as the market shifts toward lighter drinks and the shelf-stable smoothie category gets crowded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Snapple Whipper Snapple?
Whipper Snapple launched in spring 1998 and sold well enough to win trade awards in its first year. New flavors were added in 1999. The line was phased out in the early 2000s as the market for shelf-stable smoothies cooled off.
When did Snapple Whipper Snapple close?
Snapple Whipper Snapple closed in 1999. Whipper Snapple launched in spring 1998 and sold well enough to win trade awards in its first year. New flavors were added in 1999. The line was phased out in the early 2000s as the market for shelf-stable smoothies cooled off.
Is Snapple Whipper Snapple still in business?
Snapple Whipper Snapple has been discontinued or significantly changed. Whipper Snapple launched in spring 1998 and sold well enough to win trade awards in its first year. New flavors were added in 1999. The line was phased out in the early 2000s as the market for shelf-stable smoothies cooled off.
Explore More
- Triarc (Snapple parent) 1998 Annual Report — Whipper Snapple launch, sales and awards
- SouthCoastToday (December 9, 1998) — press coverage of Whipper Snapple
- BevNET — Whipper Snapple Orange Dream product page
- BevNET — Whipper Snapple Peach Mango product page
- YouTube — Whipper Snapple TV commercial (1999)
- Wikipedia — Snapple (brand background)
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