Fresno shoppers ‘Clearly’ excited iconic drink from the ’90s has headed back to stores

Clearly Canadian, the iconic drink from the 1990s, is back in the store.

Not only that – Fresno shoppers have been quick to grab the once-mega-popular flavored water off the shelves.

After notifying customers via email that it would sell Clearly Canadian again – and at 25 percent off as a limited promotion – the Cost Plus World Market in River Park sold out of about 300 bottles within a few hours May 18.

Another 100 bottles were requested on back order via World Market’s “rain-check policy.”

“People just kept showing up, asking for it,” said Santiago Ortiz, who for the past three years has served as the Fresno World Market’s supervisor of operations. “We got calls about it first thing that day.

“It was crazy. To my knowledge, I can’t remember anything else that sold that quickly.”

Locally, only Cost Plus World Market is carrying Clearly Canadian. They can also be purchased on the World Market website.

At its height, Clearly Canadian produced annual sales of $155 million while appealing to health-conscious consumers.

The drink – distinguished by its clear color and blue-tinted bottle – even made an appearance on the popular TV show “Seinfeld.”

Clearly Canadian, however, faced legal troubles over the years and competition also grew more fierce.

By 2009, the drink had disappeared from shelves.

The comeback was spearheaded by a crowd-funding campaign that started in January 2015, with the company setting a goal: If 25,000 cases were preordered, Clearly Canadian would return.

Within two months, the goal was achieved.

World Market in Fresno expects its next Clearly Canadian shipment to arrive in early to mid-June, with enough cases to satisfy the raincheck orders and more for any new purchases.

It just won’t be at the 25 percent off, anymore.

Clearly Canadian flavors are Mountain Blackberry, Country Raspberry, Orchard Peach and Wild Cherry – its signature drink.

Each bottle goes for $2.29.

This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Fresno shoppers ‘Clearly’ excited iconic drink from the ’90s has headed back to stores."