The Topo Chico shortage 2026 could impact Latino-owned restaurants, retailers, and the booming premium water market as production slows in Mexico.
Attention, Topo Chico fans: Brace yourself for a possible shortage that could stretch into the summer.
The brand was originally popular in northern Mexico and Texas, with the Coca-Cola Company later helping popularize it across the United States. The drink has a cult following. Topo Chico is highly popular in Los Angeles, having evolved from a regional Tex-Mex favorite into a trendy, widely available staple across California, according to Reddit user conversations. It is commonly found in LA area restaurants and retailers like Costco and Whole Foods.
The beverage company acquired Topo Chico in 2017 and significantly expanded its distribution, making it one of the most popular sparkling waters today. Sales climbed quickly after the acquisition: Bloomberg reported that over one 12-month period from 2018 to 2019, sales rose 39 percent, to almost $130 million.
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 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.
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