Clearly Canadian

Clearly Canadian is a Canadian beverage brand established in British Columbia in 1987. Its core product is a naturally flavoured sparkling water that occupies a space between carbonated soft drinks and bottled water. The brand became associated with a clear bottle, fruit-forward flavours, visible carbonation, and a formulation that originally used sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. It also positioned itself around natural flavouring and the absence of artificial food colouring, characteristics that helped distinguish it from mainstream soda during the emergence of the premium or “new age” beverage category. The drink began shipping in January 1988 and expanded rapidly, particularly in the United States. During the 1990s, Clearly Canadian grew alongside other influential alternative beverage brands such as Snapple and Red Bull. Its reported annual sales reached $155 million in 1993, illustrating the scale the brand achieved during its strongest period. The company also experimented beyond its core sparkling-water line. Test-market and extension products included Clearly Tea, Clearly Two, Clearly Canadian O+2, Battery, Refresher, diet flavours, and Orbitz, a beverage containing suspended gel spheres. The wider business pursued acquisitions and corporate transactions, including the purchase of Cascade Clear Water Co., DMR Food Corporation, and My Organic Baby. The brand’s corporate history became considerably more complicated after 2000. Founding management departed in 2001, the company underwent recapitalization and ownership changes in 2005, and its founder resigned as chairman in 2006. It completed a creditor reorganization in 2010. These changes contributed to interruptions in commercial availability, and the brand experienced a short production hiatus in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, 4NCapital Partners, led by entrepreneur Robert R. Khan, acquired the company. A subsequent direct-to-consumer campaign used fan demand and advance orders to support a return to large-scale production. The campaign ultimately exceeded 40,000 pre-sold cases, while the published timeline identifies 25,000 cases as the campaign goal reached in 2015. Production later resumed in Canada, with national-scale production reported in Vancouver and Montreal by 2017. Clearly Canadian has continued to rely on brand recognition, nostalgic appeal, and the perceived distinction of its original flavour and packaging. In 2021, the business was sold to private investors in a transaction whose terms were not disclosed. More recent product development has broadened the portfolio beyond the traditional sweetened range. In 2023, the brand introduced Zero Sugar products sweetened with stevia and an unsweetened Essence line. In 2024, it introduced its Originals range in six-pack sleek cans. The brand is therefore active across both legacy and newer better-for-you-oriented formats, while retaining its identity as a premium-flavoured sparkling-water label with significant recognition in the United States and selected international markets.

Clearly Canadian was founded in British Columbia in 1987 by Gordon Sim, Doug Mason, and other participants. Its first product was a sweetened, naturally flavoured sparkling water that began shipping in January 1988. The product was differentiated from ordinary soft drinks by its use of sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, natural flavours, and no food colouring. This formulation and the brand’s transparent packaging helped it become an early example of the premium or “new age” beverage products that later developed into a large international category. The brand expanded rapidly during the 1990s, especially in the United States, and became associated with the same alternative-beverage boom that included Snapple and, later, Red Bull. Reported annual sales reached $155 million in 1993. The company pursued licensing, product development, and corporate expansion during this period. It test-marketed Clearly Tea and Clearly Two in 1994, introduced Orbitz in 1996, acquired Cascade Clear Water Co. in 1997, and launched Clearly Canadian O+2, Battery, and Refresher products in 1998. Orbitz became particularly notable for its free-floating gel spheres, making it a separate and unusual entry in the company’s historical beverage portfolio. Corporate complexity increased around the turn of the century. The flagship packaging was redesigned and diet flavours were added in 2000. Founding management left in 2001, followed by a 2005 recapitalization that brought new ownership and management. Gordon Sim resigned as chairman in 2006. The company broadened its corporate holdings by acquiring DMR Food Corporation and My Organic Baby in 2007. It completed a creditor reorganization in 2010 and experienced a temporary interruption in production during 2010 and 2011. In 2012, the company was acquired by 4NCapital Partners, an investment firm led by entrepreneur Robert R. Khan. The renewed business used a fan-sourced, direct-to-consumer campaign to validate demand and obtain advance commitments for a production restart. The campaign reached its stated presale goal of 25,000 cases by 2015 and was reported to have generated more than 40,000 cases in presales. Commercial production resumed in Canada, and by 2017 the brand was reported to be producing at national levels in Vancouver and Montreal. In 2021, Clearly Canadian was sold to private investors in a transaction for which the terms were not disclosed. The brand has remained active and has continued to develop products around both its legacy identity and changing consumer preferences. In 2023, it launched Zero Sugar products sweetened with stevia as well as an unsweetened Essence portfolio. In 2024, it introduced Originals in six-pack sleek cans. Its modern identity combines nostalgia for the original 1990s product with premium sparkling-water positioning and extensions intended to serve consumers seeking reduced-sugar or unsweetened beverages.

• 2024

  Originals introduced in sleek cans

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The Originals line was offered in six-pack sleek-can packaging.

• 2023

  Zero Sugar and Essence launched

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The company expanded into stevia-sweetened Zero Sugar and unsweetened Essence products.

• 2021

  Sold to private investors

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The brand was sold in a transaction whose financial and purchaser details were not disclosed.

• 2015

  Presale campaign reaches its goal

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  A fan-supported presale campaign reached its stated target of 25,000 cases and helped return the product to production.

• 2012

  Acquired by 4NCapital Partners

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  4NCapital Partners, led by Robert R. Khan, acquired the company.

• 2010

  Creditor reorganization

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The company completed a creditor reorganization amid a temporary production interruption.

• 2001

  Founding management exits

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The original management group departed as the company entered a period of corporate instability.

• 1996

  Orbitz introduced

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The company launched Orbitz, a beverage containing suspended gel spheres.

• 1993

  Reported sales reach $155 million

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The brand reached a reported annual-sales peak during its 1990s expansion.

• 1990

  Corporate name changes

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name to Clearly Canadian Beverage Company.

• 1988

  First shipments begin

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  The beverage began commercial shipping in January.

• 1987

  Brand founded in British Columbia

  [1]Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org

  Clearly Canadian was established as a naturally flavoured sparkling-water brand.

Premium, naturally flavoured sparkling water with strong nostalgia value, distinctive transparent packaging, and a positioning historically differentiated from conventional soda through the use of sugar, natural flavours, and no food colouring.

• Flavoured sparkling water · 1987

  Clearly Canadian Original Sparkling Water

  The core Clearly Canadian product is a carbonated, fruit-flavoured beverage positioned between bottled water and soda. Its historical formulation used sugar, natural flavours, and no food colouring. The clear bottle and recognizable flavour profile became central to the brand’s identity and later supported its nostalgia-driven revival.

• Zero-sugar sparkling water · 2023

  Clearly Canadian Zero Sugar

  Launched in 2023, Zero Sugar extends the brand into a reduced-sugar segment. The portfolio uses stevia sweetening and retains the brand’s flavoured sparkling-water format while addressing consumers seeking an alternative to traditional sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

• Unsweetened sparkling water · 2023

  Clearly Canadian Essence Unsweetened

  The Essence portfolio, introduced in 2023, represents the brand’s unsweetened offering. It broadens Clearly Canadian’s relevance among consumers who want carbonation and flavour without the sweetness associated with the original line.

• Specialty beverage · 1996

  Orbitz

  Orbitz was a historical Clearly Canadian beverage introduced in 1996. It was distinguished by free-floating gel spheres suspended in the drink and became one of the company’s most unusual product experiments.

• Tea beverage · 1994

  Clearly Tea

  Clearly Tea was among the beverage extensions test-marketed by the company in 1994. The product illustrates the brand’s earlier effort to expand beyond sparkling water into adjacent premium beverage formats.

• 2013Fan-sourced production revival campaign

  United States · Canada

  Clearly Canadian used an online crowdsourcing and direct-to-consumer presale campaign to measure consumer demand and secure advance orders for a return to commercial production.

  Outcome. The campaign reached its reported target of 25,000 cases by 2015 and was described as generating more than 40,000 cases in presales, helping restart large-scale production.

  Source

• 2024

  Originals six-pack sleek-can launchProduct launch

  Background

  The company continued updating the presentation of its established product line.

  Action taken

  It introduced Originals in six-pack sleek cans.

  Aftermath

  The move added a contemporary multipack format to the brand’s established Originals range.

  Source

• 2023

  Expansion into Zero Sugar and unsweetened productsProduct launch

  Background

  The brand broadened its portfolio to address consumers seeking less sweet or unsweetened sparkling beverages.

  Action taken

  Clearly Canadian launched a stevia-sweetened Zero Sugar portfolio and an unsweetened Essence portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The launches extended the brand beyond its traditional sugar-sweetened sparkling-water proposition.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquisition by 4NCapital PartnersM&A

  Background

  The company had experienced management changes, financial restructuring, and a temporary production hiatus.

  Action taken

  4NCapital Partners, led by Robert R. Khan, acquired the company and supported a renewed commercial strategy.

  Aftermath

  Production resumed after a fan-backed presale initiative, with national-scale Canadian production reported by 2017.

  Source

• 2000

  Flagship packaging redesigned and diet flavours addedStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to refresh its established product range and broaden its appeal during a period of changing beverage preferences.

  Action taken

  It redesigned the packaging of the flagship line and introduced diet flavours.

  Aftermath

  The change forms part of the brand’s late-1990s and early-2000s product and corporate transition, although the available reference does not quantify its commercial effect.

  Source

1. 1Clearly Canadianen.wikipedia.org