Why Did They Discontinue Hi-C Orange?

On Aug 25, 2022

According to a memo addressed to McDonald’s operators and managers that appeared on Imgur earlier this week, the fast food chain announced its U.S. locations are going to discontinue Hi-C Orange after May 1. (The full official name of the drink is actually Hi-C Orange Lavaburst, which most of us probably didn’t know.)

The Hi-C products used to be the color implied by their flavor, but in 2002, Hi-C juice boxes was re-introduced as a yellowish clear beverage that would not stain clothing. Thus, flavors like Shoutin’ Orange Tangergreen lost their distinctive colors.

An internal company memo was just leaked to Reddit revealing that the brand is phasing out their Hi-C Orange Lavaburst as of next week. The stores that still have it in stock are allowed to keep selling it now, so if you are a big fan, this is your chance to pair it with a Happy Meal.

Hot-packed in enamel-lined 56-ounce cans, the product needed no refrigeration before opening. After test marketing in 1947, Hi-C orange drink was introduced in 1948 with a massive promotional effort, spending thousands of dollars weekly per market on promotions.

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When will Hi C orange be removed from the menu?

Hi-C Orange — a drink you know exists only because of McDonald’s — is getting removed from the burger chain’s menu starting in four short days. A memo the company sent franchisees on Monday says the phaseout begins May 1, although stores will be allowed to keep selling whatever’s on hand till it runs out.

The notice explains that a “proprietary,” new carbonated drink called Sprite TropicBerry is coming in July to replace Hi-C. But rest assured: McDonald’s is fully aware of the Pandora’s box it’s opening.

Strangely, Hi-C Lavaburst, as it’s officially known, is already a Coke-owned be verage, so switching to Sprite doesn’t help Coke, unless McDonald’s sells more TropicBerry than it did Hi-C — a gutsy bet, considering Hi-C is its only beverage option with a cult following. Regardless, people have approximately two months before it disappears forever.