May 2011   |   Volume 2, Issue #7

The Perfect Pucker

It all started with the Great Depression and a diamond engagement ring. In 1935, Hubert "Hub" Hansen was reeling from the blow of the downed economy that had crippled his successful home-building company. Armed with a strong determination to start over, Hansen packed up his family and moved west from Minnesota to the fertile farmlands of Southern California.

Growing up, Hansen found that the best remedy to help with his chronic sinus condition was fresh carrot juice; and with that in mind came the idea for his next endeavor. He sold his wife's precious diamond engagement ring (with her permission, of course) to fund his new company, Hansen's Fruit and Vegetable Juices. Together with his four sons, Hansen hand-squeezed and sold fresh, non-pasteurized juices to the local Hollywood film studios and retailers. The brand became strong with loyal customers who appreciated the superb quality and taste. By the 1950s Hansen had to build a modern plant to keep up with the demand for his products. But he never let technology replace his promise to make top-quality, delicious, nutritious juices.

In the 1970s Hansen's grandson, Tim, brought a new line of beverages into the mix and what we now know as Hansen's Natural Sodas was created. Free of preservatives, caffeine, sodium, and artificial colors and flavors, these natural sodas were revolutionary for the time — and are to this day. In 2008, Hansen's replaced high fructose corn syrup with real cane sugar, and they now boast 21 real fruit and spice soda flavors (all of which can be found at Sprouts).

One of the latest elixirs to be added to the Hansen's beverage lineup is Hubert's Lemonade, named after the family's beloved patriarch and made with the freshest, sweetest California lemons they could find.

"Lemonades are always associated with great memories and fun and so that is the approach we took with creating the Hubert's brand," said Blair Owens, Hansen's Vice President of Marketing. "And, since Hansen's started as a fresh juice company by Hubert Hansen, why not capture the company's heritage?"

Owens added, "There are a ton of tea brands, sport drink brands, soda brands, etc., but no true fine purveyor of lemonade."

And as with all Hansen's juice and beverage products, these premium, all-natural lemonades are free of preservatives, artificial flavors and artificial colors; superior quality and taste goes into every bottle. One sip generates thoughts of carefree summer days, relaxing on the front porch with an icy glass of lemonade in hand.

Hubert's lemonade is available in six great flavors including Original, Raspberry, Strawberry, Limeade, Mango and Honey. The folks at Hansen's like to think of their lemonade as happiness in a bottle and with every pucker-inducing, smile-deserving sip, we whole-heartedly agree!