What Happened to Clearly Canadian? Why The 'New Age' '90s Drink Disappeared.

Clearly Canadian

Have you ever found yourself laying in bed when all of a sudden a long tucked away memory just pops right up into the forefront of your mind? This often happens with the products of our childhood that we constantly saw advertised on television and stocked on the shelves of the stores we frequented. And if you’re a kid from the '90s, the decade of relative peace and prosperity brought with it an enclave of product nostalgia ripe for future generations to obsess over.

The 1990s was a decade that produced wild marketing innovations and product experimentation that resulted in the likes of such tasty creations as Dunkaroos, Gushers, Lunchables and Bagel Bites. And if these brands are jostling loose a little bit of that sweet nostalgia juice, then maybe a once meteoric rise to fame known as Clearly Canadian will also quench your unabated thirst.

But what happened to the once beloved beverage of our neighbors from the north that solidified itself as a core childhood memory for so many? And is it even possible to get your hands on a case of such nostalgia-rich nectar still to this day?

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What Happened to Clearly Canadian?

Launched in 1988 and introduced as a “new age” alternative to soda, Clearly Canadian experienced a more than decade long run of being considered one of the better sparkling water beverages around. The brand experienced an extremely successful launch that would lead to a reported $61 million revenue in 1991 along with the campaign slogan, “Get Wild…Naturally.”

In tangent with their fast track to success, Clearly Canadian immediately began expanding its markets to sell new products all around the world. But in the end, the company was no match for the corporate and financial prowess of the big beverage companies that had already begun launching similar products in the same markets.

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Clearly Canadian would go on to launch new flavors and formulas in their respective markets, such as Clearly Tea (a lightly carbonated iced tea drink) and Clearly 2, a 2-calorie version of the brand's popular original product. Ultimately, it was multiple financial losses and a slew of legal battles that would eventually see Clearly Canadian temporarily placed on the back burner and removed from shelves altogether.

YouTube Influence

A few years ago, a YouTuber by the name of Scott Cramer had his own epiphany regarding the nostalgia surrounding Clearly Canadian. In his video, Cramer remembered watching an episode of Rhett and Link’s Good Mythical Morning from a years prior in which the duo discussed the current state of Clearly Canadian. Cramer recounts Rhett and Link discovering that while the brand had been shelved for years, it turned out that Clearly Canadian had actually been attempting a comeback campaign of their own.

Upon visiting the Clearly Canadian website, Rhett and Link were met with the message, “Help us bring back the original Clearly Canadian by pre-ordering a case.” The message continued to detail how Clearly Canadian was relying on their dedicated fan base to purchase 25,000 cases in order to bring the beloved beverage back for good. At the time of Rhett and Links discovery in 2015, Clearly Canadian had already sold about 9,000 cases towards their goal. So, being the big fans of nostalgia that they are, the podcasting duo did what needed to be done in order to give Clearly Canadian the bump it needed.

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Where Can Clearly Canadian Be purchased?

After a failed re-launch toast event, a broken link to purchase a case online and a year or so of delayed shipments, Clearly Canadian is now officially back on the market. Those who would like a sweet taste of their childhood packaged into a familiar glass bottle can check out the official site to find a store near them that carries the newly resurfaced beverage. Simply type in your zip code and find a location suitable for you to pick up a case.

Alternatively, if there are not any physical locations near you that carry the once loved sparkling water beverage, you can still order a case from Amazon for as little as $45. After all, who wouldn't want to enjoy the nostalgia of your childhood from the comfort of your home while you rewatch episodes of Friends and Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

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