Members of a new board of directors preparing to take the reins at Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc

Food & Drink Weekly, March 17, 2003

Members of a new board of directors preparing to take the reins at Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. say they're open to all options as the cooperative struggles with shrinking demand and slumping prices. A sale of the Ocean Spray brand is among the possibilities, said Gary Dempze, a new board member and a spokesman for the group, said those options include selling the Ocean Spray brand.

A group of dissident growers calling itself the Growers Information Coalition forced the leadership change at the company's annual meeting Saturday in Chicago. The group campaigned for a smaller board with more representation for small growers, criticizing the old regime for its lack of communication.