Clearly Canadian
One of the first premium new age beverage products.
Clearly Canadian is a brand of premium sparkling water owned by The Clearly Food & Beverage Company Ltd., based in British Columbia, Canada. The company launched in 1987. It is widely regarded as an early example of a premium "new age beverage," and it helped create the foundation for what is now a multibillion-dollar market. The drink stood out from other sodas because it used sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup, along with natural flavors and no artificial food colorings. The brand was founded by Gordon Sim, Doug Mason, and others in British Columbia, and it began shipping in January 1988. The company changed its name to the Clearly Canadian Beverage Company in 1990. Production originally ceased in 2006, and the brand was revived in 2012 after acquisition by Robert R. Khan.
Throughout the 1990s, Clearly Canadian grew rapidly and dominated the market alongside Snapple. However, from 2000 to 2012, the company suffered from broad mismanagement. In 2012, it was acquired by serial entrepreneur Robert R. Khan through his investment firm 4NCapital Partners. Large-scale commercial production soon resumed in Canada, following an online crowd-sourcing campaign that pre-sold more than 40,000 cases.
Key events in the brand’s timeline include: 1987, introduction of the sweetened, naturally flavored sparkling water; 1993, annual sales reached $155 million; 1993, a royalty agreement with Camfrey Resources ended with a $22.9 million payment; 1994, test-marketing of Clearly Tea and Clearly Two; 1996, a hostile bid to acquire Sun-Rype Products Ltd.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Clearly Food & Beverage Company Ltd.
- Origin
- Canada
- Introduced
- December 1987
- Flavor
- Sparkling Flavoured & Non-Flavoured Spring Water
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Clearly Canadian was founded in 1987 by Gordon Sim, Doug Mason and others in British Columbia. The drink began shipping in January 1988. It was distinguished from other soda lines due to using sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, natural flavors, and no food colourings. The company changed its name to Clearly Canadian Beverage Company in 1990. The brand originally ceased production in 2006 and was revived in 2012 after acquisition by Robert R. Khan.
Reader's Guide
Clearly Canadian experienced rapid market-dominating growth throughout the 1990s alongside Snapple and Red Bull, but fell into broad corporate mismanagement beginning in 2000 and up to 2012, when it was acquired by serial entrepreneur Robert R. Khan under his 4NCapital Partners investment firm. Large-scale commercial production resumed shortly thereafter in Canada and was precipitated by an online crowd-sourcing campaign that pre-sold in excess of 40,000 cases. The brand's significance lies in its role as a pioneer in the premium sparkling water segment, influencing the development of the new age beverage market. Its revival through fan-sourced pre-sales demonstrated a unique model for resurrecting discontinued products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clearly Canadian?
Clearly Canadian is a line of premium sparkling waters produced by The Clearly Food & Beverage Company Ltd., a British Columbia-based beverage manufacturer. It hit shelves in January 1987 and is widely credited as one of the earliest "new age beverage" products on the market.
Who founded Clearly Canadian?
The brand was created by Gordon Sim, Doug Mason, and a small team of others in British Columbia. They set out to make a soda that felt distinct from the mass-market options available at the time.
What makes Clearly Canadian different from regular soda?
Instead of high fructose corn syrup, the drink sweetens with sugar and relies on natural flavors. It also contains no artificial food colorings, which set it apart from most mainstream sodas in the late 1980s.
Why is Clearly Canadian considered important in beverage history?
It is regarded as a pioneering example of the premium "new age beverage" category, helping to lay the groundwork for what has since grown into a multibillion-dollar market. Its 1987 launch demonstrated that consumers would pay more for a cleaner ingredient list.
Where is Clearly Canadian based?
The Clearly Food & Beverage Company Ltd. operates out of British Columbia, Canada, and the brand began shipping its products in January 1987.
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