Wisconsin gets the bragging rights, and Florida is sending the juice. Following Milwaukee’s Game 5 victory in Tampa, Florida’s Natural made good on its World Series bet with Johnsonville, shipping more than 20 pallets of orange juice, more than 12,000 cartons – or in local terms, approximately 200 kegs – to Wisconsin, with a semitruck on the road within hours of Wednesday’s clincher.
A portion of the victory OJ will be on display Friday, Oct. 30, outside the Italian Community Center along Milwaukee’s parade route, where fans can grab cartons as the city celebrates its first championship – 44 years after the Brewers’ last World Series appearance. Additional cases will be hand-delivered to local establishments for signature drinks and toasts as representatives of both brands canvass the Third Ward, and multiple pallets are headed to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, the state’s largest hunger-relief organization.
“Florida’s Natural came through in a big way, and its mission of spreading goodness is fitting,” said Jamie Schmelzer, VP of marketing at Johnsonville. “No doubt a lot of that OJ is destined for mimosas and beermosas, but we’re thrilled that this payout is also giving back to families across the region. The juice was worth the squeeze, and our head of supply chain is breathing a big sigh of relief right now.”
The wager, struck just a week ago, had put 413,554 Johnsonville brats on the line – one for every Tampa resident – had Milwaukee lost.
“We were looking forward to those brats, but since we have to pay up, we might as well make it juicy,” said Kelly Wade, director of marketing at Florida’s Natural. “It’s great to see this friendly rivalry play out with Wisconsin fans and families during a time they will remember for years to come. Congratulations!”
Wisconsin-based Johnsonville, founded in 1945, sells more than 80 sausage varieties in more than 40 countries. Florida’s Natural, the citrus grower cooperative founded in 1933, is sold nationwide and in 40 countries.
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