Martinelli's Cider Celebrates 140th Anniversary With New Sparkling Apple Fruit and Berry Juice Blends

Business Wire,  June 24, 2008  

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WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- Founded in 1868 by Stephen G. Martinelli, S. Martinelli & Company is celebrating 140 years as a family-owned cider producer in Watsonville, California. Currently managed by third-generation CEO Stephen C. Martinelli and his son, President S. John Martinelli, the company continues to press locally-grown Pajaro Valley apples to produce the premiere product, Martinelli's Gold Medal Sparkling Cider, the number one seller in the U.S. This year, the company is marketing a new line of sparkling juices which are a blend of apple juice with various berries and other fruits in the same traditional Champagne-style bottle. Following the introduction of Sparkling Apple-Cranberry and Sparkling Apple-Grape, the new flavors include pomegranate, peach, pear, mango, raspberry, cherry, wild berry and marionberry. "These products were created by blending the new juices with our locally-grown Newtown Pippins to achieve a perfect tart-sweet balance of the complementary flavors," John Martinelli said.

HISTORY

The company's original product, an alcoholic Champagne-style cider, received wide recognition for its high quality, including gold medal prizes beginning in 1890 at numerous local and national expositions, which led to the "Gold Medal" brand trademark. The founder's son, Stephen G. Martinelli, Jr. developed a process to make non-alcoholic apple juice. In 1917, Martinelli's was the first to pasteurize apple juice, preserving it and enabling Martinelli's to meet the demand for an alternative to alcoholic beverages when prohibition was passed in 1920.

DRINK YOUR APPLE A DAY

In the early 1930s a glass, apple-shaped jug was introduced, along with the company slogan "Drink your Apple a Day," inspiring retailers to create elaborate store displays and providing consumers with an opportunity to recycle it as a vase, pitcher or lamp. Today, Martinelli's apple-shaped glass bottles are best sellers on eBay.

As Americans have become increasingly health-conscious over the years, the choice of a non-alcoholic alternative for weddings and celebrations finds Martinelli's Sparkling Cider at the forefront of festivities. Recently, Lou Dobbs pointed out that Martinelli's is the foremost producer of apple juice made from U.S.-grown fresh apples with no imported concentrate.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

In 1994, John Martinelli expanded the business considerably with the acquisition of an additional 285,000 square-foot plant in Watsonville. In 2002, 125,000 square feet were added to make room for a new high speed bottling line that more than doubled the capacity for Sparkling Cider production.

In 2003, Martinelli's expanded their line of organic juice products and today heads the nation as the number one producer of organic Sparkling Cider. In 2005, the company introduced a 10 oz. apple-shaped plastic bottle which has won many awards for the cutting-edge technology used to produce the patented design.

From 1868 to the present, Martinelli's Cider and Apple Juice continues to be made only from U.S.-grown fresh apples and contains no added water, preservatives, sweeteners, concentrates or additives of any kind. All of Martinelli's products have been pasteurized for purity since 1917 and are kosher certified. They are available in every state in the U.S. and in several foreign countries. For more information, visit www.martinellis.com.

For additional photos and further information, contact Brown & Collins by phone at (415) 421-7137 or email at bcpromosf@aol.com.

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