• by Steve Ellwanger , May 9, 2023

Ocean Spray is seeking to expand its presence in confections in a chocolate partnership with Hershey, as it also prepares to launch a ready-to-drink cocktail line with Absolut vodka next year.

The cranberry products marketer will stop selling its non-Hershey chocolate-covered Cranberry Bites as it rolls out Milk Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Bites and Dark Chocolate Dipped Cherry Infused Cranberry Bites with Hershey.

It will continue to sell cranberry bite coated with Greek yogurt.

The company says it’s building its snack portfolio with the partnership, aiming to "evolve the dried fruit category,” Monisha Dabek, chief commercial officer USA at Ocean Spray, said in a news release.

Hershey said the new products—available in select U.S. stores including Walmart, Publix and regional grocers—will extend the company’s brand into “new snacking occasions.”

Ocean Spray’s collaboration with Absolut seeks to capitalize on the popular RTD cocktail trend by making it easier to consume the traditional mix of vodka and cranberry juice.

The new line will make its debut in 2024 as the trademarked Absolut Vodka and Ocean SprayVodka-Cranberry Range, containing Absolut, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, other natural flavors and sparkling water.

Absolut already sells RTD canned cocktails in the Mango Mule and Berry Vodkarita variants.

Ocean Spray also promotes its cranberry juice as an additive to margaritas.