A NOSTALGIC beverage company that rose to popularity in the 1980s and 90s sparked a craze among fans after rolling out its first-ever Solstice Pouch earlier this week.
Capri Sun sold out the drink, perfect for summer, in just minutes – and fans fear that the gigantic beverages are off the shelves for good.
Founded in 1969, Capri Sun is a staple in the drinks aisle, selling a variety of juice beverages in an iconic, laminated foil pouch.
One of the most popular kids’ drinks in the US, Capri Sun has continued its legacy by rolling out new flavors and products.
For example, Capri Sun launched its tallest pouch ever called Solstice Pouch this week, described as “part nostalgic, part unserious.”
The pouches were 15 inches long and contained roughly 20 ounces of juice – over three times the size of a regular pouch.
The limited-edition Solstice Pouches were sold exclusively at Walmart for $1.50, “a nod to the solstice's 15 hours of sunlight,” according to Capri Sun.
Fans of the nostalgic brand raced to get their hands on the gigantic drinks, which sold out within minutes during the drop on both June 16 and 17.
The resealable pouches, empty and intended for shoppers to fill themselves, came with a 64-ounce container of Capri Sun Fruit Punch juice.
They also came with a super long yellow straw to help “keep fans cool and quenched all day long,” per Capri Sun.
“We know our fans love discovering new twists on our iconic pouch, but the response to our longest pouch ever blew us away,” senior brand manager Jessica Barker told USA Today.
“Both drops sold out in just minutes – four and six, to be exact – which is a pretty clear sign that our fans are just as serious about fun as we are.
“We created the limited-edition pouches to celebrate the start of summer in a big way, and we're thrilled to see just how much people loved it.”
GONE FOR GOOD?
To the dismay of many fans, Capri Sun rolled out the highly-anticipated pouches for a limited time and will not release them again, discontinuing the product.
“WHAT?! I JUST FOUND OUT AND IT’S ALREADY SOLD OUT?!” cried one fan on Instagram, as others pleaded for Capri Sun to make the product a permanent offering.
“I didn’t get a chance to buy one,” commented another user. “I want a couple cause one is not enough and as an adult I would appreciate this.”
Capri Sun
Capri Sun is owned by Capri Sun Group Holding AG, a privately held company based in Switzerland.
In some countries, including the US, The Kraft Heinz Company has a licensing agreement to produce and distribute Capri Sun.
Aside from Capri Sun, Kraft Heinz owns a number of other iconic brands:
- Jell-O
- Oscar Mayer
- Philadelphia Cream Cheese
- Kool-Aid
- Classico
- Lunchables
- Cool Whip
- Crystal Light
- Ore-Ida
Although Capri Sun currently has no plans to restock the Solstice Pouch, according to Barker, the company is “thrilled by the fan excitement and always looking for new ways to surprise and delight Capri Sun fans.”
For example, the brand released its new Capri Sun Moon Punch and Capri Sun Summer Blast pouches earlier this year, and debuted its first single-serve bottles in February.
Capri Sun also launched Capri Sun Multi-Serve, a 96 ounce bottle of the nostalgic brand's top-selling Fruit Punch flavor, just in time for summer.
Fans have begged Capri Sun for years for a bigger serving size, with 76% of suggestions received by the Capri Sun call center from 2020 to 2023 regarding a larger product size, per a company press release.
"With this larger format, everyone, including kids at heart, can bring a piece of their epic childhood to parties, summer gatherings and even dinnertime at home," said Jordan Mann, senior brand manager of Capri Sun.
"We're now able to delight those fans that grew up on Capri Sun with an offering that suits their needs. They've outgrown the serving size of the pouch, but not their love for Capri Sun."
Shoppers can get their hands on the Capri Sun Multi-Serve exclusively at BJ's Wholesale Club, Sam's Club, and select Costco locations.
While the Solstice Pouch has sold out at Walmart, the retail giant is selling a handful of other new products.
For example, a beloved breakfast staple brand revealed its first new snack flavor in almost 30 years and Walmart is selling it for just $2.68.
Plus, Walmart rolled out a new frozen chicken meal and fans say it's a dupe of a viral KFC menu item – two servings cost just $5.84.