Tropicana To Sell Lakeland 'Juice Bowl' Facility

Tropicana Products Inc. said Thursday that it is seeking a buyer for its beverage packaging and citrus processing facility in Lakeland, FL. The facility, commonly known as "Juice Bowl," has about 125 full-time employees. Tropicana said it intends to sell the 15-acre Juice Bowl facility at 2090 Bartow Road because it no longer fits with the company's strategy. Company officials said that much of Juice Bowl's business consists of packaging beverages for other companies, a business inconsistent with Tropicana's plans.

The 175,000-sqft operation has three packaging lines with an annual capacity to package 18 million cases of canned and glass beverages. The facility can also process four million boxes (360 million pounds) of citrus per year.

Tropicana acquired the facility in 1995 as part of its acquisition of the Dole global juice business. Tropicana said it will continue to operate Juice Bowl while it seeks a buyer.