Houston Chronicle - July 21, 2022
Topo Chico is disappearing from grocery shelves again. Here's why.
A Texas favorite is once again struggling to keep the shelves stocked.
Last July, Topo Chico was in short supply because of a glass shortage. Now, a limit on daily water use in Mexico may be impacting the mineral water company, according to Market Realist, a financial news outlet.
The water, bottled in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, since 1895, takes its name from the Cerro del Topo Chico mountain near the city, which is limiting daily water from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. in response to a historic drought.
"We continue to face tight supply challenges with Topo Chico mineral water and are working hard to keep it on store shelves," a spokeswoman with the Coca-Cola Company wrote in an email. "We appreciate our loyal fans' patience."
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Topo Chico, which Coca-Cola acquired five years ago for $220 million, is a popular drink in Texas. Coca-Cola did not comment on whether the water restrictions is the cause of this year's Topo Chico shortage, although food supplier What Chefs Want said in a market alert that drought conditions and water shortages have led to a halt in production for several products, including Topo Chico.
Demand for water outpaced supply by about 2.5 cubic meters per second in Monterrey in June, city water director Juan Ignacio Barragan said during a news conference last month, leading to water restrictions.
Last year's shortage was caused by a lack of raw materials, including glass. The glass shortage remains ongoing, according to CBS Austin.
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