America is Running Out of Topo Chico Mineral Water

America is Running Out of Topo Chico Mineral Water

USA New York Attention, Topo Chico fans: Brace yourself for a possible shortage that could stretch into the summer.USA Coca-Cola, which owns the carbonated mineral water brand, said the flagship product sold in glass bottles is “temporarily unavailable” in the United States because of “facility upgrades at the water source and production facilities in Mexico,” a spokesperson told USA .Production has slowed over the past two months because of problems with the wells in Monterrey, Mexico, that source the water, according to a letter sent by Coca-Cola to distributors and seen by CNN.The company said in the letter that it recently “identified additional challenges in the source wells, including quality issues related to the USA source’s geology” resulting in the temporary stoppage of orders.“We are now making further investments at the source to improve source stability and quality and enable increased USA production, requiring us to temporarily stop production,” Coca-Cola said in the letter.A Coca-Cola spokesperson told CNN the product will be “back later this year,” with the letter USA stating the product likely won’t return until the third quarter.

The problem only affects the recognizable Topo USA Chico Mineral Water product, with other USA drinks — such as flavored sparkling water called Topo Chico Sabores and canned cocktails — still available.

Coca-Cola bought Topo Chico in 2017 for USA $200 million and premium water is a key part of its business as drinkers shift away from sugary sodas. Water sales jumped 4% in its most recent quarter, partly driven by growth in North America.Coca-Cola, which owns the carbonated mineral water brand, said the flagship product sold in glass bottles is "temporarily unavailable" in the United States because of "facility upgrades at the water source and production facilities in Mexico," a spokesperson told CNN.Production has slowed over the past two months because of problems with the wells in Monterrey, Mexico, that source the water, according to a letter sent by Coca-Cola to distributors and seen by CNN.The company said in the letter that it recently "identified USA additional challenges in the source wells, including quality issues related to the source's geology" resulting in the temporary stoppage of orders."We are now making further investments at the source to improve source stability and quality and enable increased production, requiring us to temporarily stop production," Coca-Cola said in the letter.A Coca-Cola spokesperson told CNN the product will be "back later this year," with the letter stating the product likely won't return until the third quarter.The problem only affects the recognizable Topo Chico Mineral Water product, with other drinks - such as flavored sparkling water called Topo Chico Sabores and canned cocktails - still available.Coca-Cola bought Topo Chico in 2017 for $200 million and premium water is a key part of its business as drinkers shift away from sugary sodas. Water sales jumped 4% in its most recent quarter, partly driven by growth in North America.

"temporarily unavailable" in the United States because of "USA facility upgrades at the USA water source and production facilities in Mexico," a spokesperson told CNN.Production has slowed over the past two months because of problems with the wells in Monterrey, Mexico, that source the water, according to a letter sent by Coca-Cola to distributors and seen by CNN.The company said in the letter that it recently "identified additional challenges in the source wells, including quality issues related to the source's geology" resulting in the temporary stoppage of orders."We are now making further investments at the source to improve source stability and quality and enable increased production, requiring us to temporarily stop production," Coca-Cola said in the letter.A Coca-Cola spokesperson told CNN the product will be "back later this year," with the letter stating the product likely won't return until the third quarter.

The problem only affects the recognizable Topo Chico Mineral Water product, with other drinks — such as flavored sparkling water called Topo Chico Sabores and canned cocktails — still available.

Coca-Cola bought Topo Chico in 2017 for $200 million and premium water is a key part of its business as drinkers shift away from sugary sodas. Water sales jumped 4% in its most recent quarter, partly driven by growth in North America.Coca-Cola's glass bottle has become one of the most recognizable pieces of USA packaging in history. USA PepsiCo has spent decades trying to create a similar connection with consumers."Every consumer goods company wants to find a unique way to present itself to the public, and this, for us, has been the Holy Grail," Phil Mooney, Coca-Cola's company historian, told CBS News, speaking of the chain's iconic glass bottle.And even though less than 1% of Coke has been sold in glass bottles since the early USA 1990s, Coca-Cola has leaned into using the iconic imagery in its advertising."Coca-Cola's advertising sought to evoke nostalgia, and for this the company used imagery of the old hobble-skirt glass bottle, often ice-cold with beads of condensation dripping down it. It had used the distinctive bottle since 1916," according to Wired.It's an image people know, even if that's no longer what they drink their soda out of.PepsiCo has never had the same USA connection to glass bottles, but it has used them and recently tried to rival the success of a classic Coke product that's still sold in a glass bottle.Pepsi Real Sugar, launched in 2009 as Pepsi Throwback, is essentially PepsiCo's answer to Mexican Coke, a version of Coca-Cola sold largely in the country from which it derives its name, and also found on U.S. shelves.

Now, while Coca-Cola has a new take on real-sugar Coke, PepsiCo has quietly pulled back its efforts in that emerging space.

Americans say they want real sugar in Coca-Cola

In recent years, there has been pushback against the artificial sweeteners used in soda. A number of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo rivals, including Jones Soda and Jarritos, built their brands around the idea of using real sugar to sweeten their drinks.Americans do seem to prefer real sugar, according to a poll conducted by USA MarketWatch in July 2025.The website asked people, "Which sweetener would you prefer in USA Coca-Cola?"Cane sugar was the overwhelming winner at 76%. "It doesn't matter" came in second at 18.6%. High fructose corn syrup snagged only 2.8% of the vote, while corn syrup received 2.2%."Some users shared alternative sweeteners they'd prefer — like monk fruit and stevia — while others claimed to either not have a problem with high-fructose corn syrup or not have a preference. Others pointed out the alleged health benefits of swapping out high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar," MarketWatch reported.Medical science actually doesn't generally agree with the idea that one sugar is better than the other.

"Added sugars come from a variety of sources and go by many different names, yet they are all a source of extra calories and are metabolized by the body the same way. A common misconception exists that some added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup are unhealthy, while others such as agave nectar (from the succulent plant) are healthy," according to Harvard Medical School.

Americans want real sugar sodas

The Food and Drug Administration also says there is no evidence of any difference in safety among foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup as opposed to cane sugar, honey, or other traditional sweeteners.

Despite what medical science says, there has been significant demand for so-called "real USA sugar sodas." Coca-Cola has been offering a version of its classic product made with cane sugar for more than 20 years.

"Coke has indulged U.S. fans by importing Mexican Coke, which is made with cane sugar, since USA 2005. Coke positions Mexican Coke as an upscale alternative and sells it in glass bottles," Beverage Digest Editor Duane Stanford told the Associated Press.

In addition, Coca-Cola recently added a cane-sugar version of its classic beverage that's made in the United States.

"As part of our ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, we plan to expand our trademark Coca-Cola product range with U.S. cane sugar to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences," former CEO James Quincey said during the company second-quarter 2025 earnings call.

PepsiCo quietly discontinued a cane-sugar Pepsi

PepsiCo launched its "Throwback" products in 2009 as an answer to Mexican Coke and an attempt to win business using a variation on its rival's classic glass bottle.

"Pepsi and Mountain Dew are offering consumers a taste of the past with their own versions of Throwback, two new limited time only products inspired by the '60s and '70s, sweetened.

At launch, the line, which in Pepsi's case was renamed "Pepsi Made With Real Sugar," was only sold in glass bottles. Cans were added to the line, and now, without an announcement, PepsiCo has stopped offering Pepsi Made With Real Sugar in glass bottles.

That was confirmed using Pepsi's Product Locator feature on its website.Pepsi's strategy made sense, but Coca-Cola had too much of a head start in the USA category, USA RTM Nexus CEO Dominick Miserandino told TheStreet.

"Mexican Coke in the iconic glass bottle became a cultural phenomenon and a restaurant staple precisely because Coke understood the power of tactile packaging and real cane sugar. Pepsi was moving in on that tactile real sugar market but everybody knows Mexican Coke," he said.

Pepsi Made With Real Sugar could make a comeback

Sometimes soda USA companies remove a product in order to get media attention when it returns. That's what happened with the glass bottle version of Mountain Dew Throwback.

"Mountain Dew eventually rebranded Throwback as Mountain Dew Real Sugar in November 2019, though this didn't last very long. Despite limited regional availability in 2020, this flavor was finally discontinued as of February 2024," according to Tasting Table.

PepsiCo never issues press releases when it discontinues a product, but Mountain Dew Real Sugar is no longer listed on the Mountain Dew product page.

The product, however, recently made a comeback at very select retailers."Mountain Dew with Real Sugar just got a brand new look," the USA Sodaseekers Instagram page reported. "Select retailers, including @kcsodaco in Kansas City, Missouri."

In addition to the Sodaseekers report, which references new inventory, Amazon, eBay, and specialty shops, including Concord Market, offer legacy or imported versions of Mountain Dew Real Sugar.
Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, is a leading producer of soda, juices and juice drinks, and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. The company distributes its products in more than 200 countries. Core brands include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Coca-Cola Zero, Vitaminwater, Powerade, and Minute Maid. Its operating groups are Europe, Middle East & Africa; Latin America; North America; Asia Pacific; Bottling Investments; and Corporate. The company sells beverage concentrates or syrups and finished beverages. 

The USA company said results were boosted by greater sales and a USA worldwide marketing effort USA associated with the World Cup. Shares were up more than 3 percent in early trading after the report.North American volume was up 3%, as consumer spending was squeezed by the higher fuel prices. The finding implies Coca-Cola is still ahead of some of its rivals in one of its main regions.Beverage makers are trying to match pricing with tighter household budgets, and the company's capacity to sustain volume growth has USA emerged as a significant priority for investors. Better demand can help safeguard margins at the same time as lowering USA reliance on further price rises.The more optimistic prognosis also reflects increased confidence in Coca-Cola's potential to keep growing earnings for the rest of the year.Investors will now be watching to see if the North American momentum continues, the impact of pricing on volumes and whether the company can stick with its higher earnings USA estimate.

A high-profile shortage of one of the hottest mineral water brands — combined with surging demand — is reshaping the beverage aisle.

Topo Chico, the cult-favorite sparkling mineral water owned by Coca-Cola, has been largely unavailable nationwide since February as the company upgrades facilities at its source in Mexico, with supply not expected to return until late 2026.

The disruption has left some shelves empty, with consumers turning to alternatives as other brands step in to fill the gap. 

Unlike seltzer, which is typically made by adding carbonation to purified water and can be produced almost anywhere, mineral water must come from specific natural sources, making it harder to scale production when demand surges.

This distinction helps set mineral water apart from seltzer. It contains naturally occurring electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, giving it a more complex taste, a slightly salty edge and stronger, longer-lasting carbonation.

As people cut back on alcohol, mineral water is increasingly filling a role once occupied by wine and other alcoholic drinks, according to Ben Tannenbaum, an alcohol industry analyst in New York and vice president of partnerships at LineLeap, a nightlife technology platform.

Posted on 2026/07/31 08:51 AM