Odwalla, Juice Brand With Santa Cruz Roots, Shuts Down

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Odwalla, the fruit and smoothie brand that was founded in Santa Cruz in 1980, is being shut down by parent company Coca-Cola due to struggling sales and a changing market, the company said this week.

The move, first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, will cut about 300 jobs. The company will stop delivering bottles to stores around the end of July, citing several years of declining sales as consumers' tastes change.

Odwalla was founded by three Santa Cruz musicians in 1980, and moved its headquarters to Half Moon Bay before being bought by Coca-Cola in 2001 for $181 million, CBS reported.

Odwalla's most recent offerings include original superfood and mango tango smoothies, as well as protein shakes and smoothie-Kombucha hybrid drinks.

While the company said Odwalla's closure isn't directly related to the coronavirus pandemic, it comes on the heels of dozens of similar closures by California retailers and restaurants unable to weather the economic crisis. Places closing for good include Specialty's Cafe & Bakery, Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation.

Related coverage: Several CA Retailers Closing Due To Coronavirus