Orbitz (drink)
Orbitz was a short-lived Canadian fruit-flavoured beverage sold in the 1990s by The Clearly Food & Beverage Company of Canada, the company behind Clearly Canadian.
Orbitz was a Canadian fruit-flavoured beverage from the 1990s, famous for its floating edible gel beads that created a lava lamp effect. It was made by the company behind Clearly Canadian and discontinued after just a few years.
What it was
Orbitz was a non-carbonated drink launched in the mid-1990s by The Clearly Food & Beverage Company of Canada. Its main draw was the visual spectacle of small gel beads suspended in clear liquid. Five flavours were available, including pineapple banana and cherry coconut. The marketing called it a “texturally enhanced alternative beverage.”
Why it was discontinued
Despite its novelty, Orbitz did not find a wide audience. The unusual texture and flavours did not appeal to most consumers, and sales were weak. Within two years of launch, the product was pulled from shelves. It never returned.
Legacy
Today, Orbitz is remembered as one of the stranger soft drinks of the 1990s. Unopened bottles have become collector’s items. The name later became better known for a travel website, not the drink.
In short
- Canadian drink with floating gel beads.
- Launched mid-1990s by Clearly Canadian maker.
- Discontinued due to poor sales.
- Now a collectible novelty.
Orbitz was a Canadian beverage brand made by a Canadian company and sold in both Canada and the United States. It is part of Canada’s 1990s soft-drink history, alongside Clearly Canadian.
Quick questions
What was Orbitz?
Why was it discontinued?
Is Orbitz still sold?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbitz_(drink)Supports: Canadian manufacturer, non-carbonated fruit-flavoured beverage, floating edible beads, and discontinuation by early 1999.
- SnackHistory — https://www.snackhistory.com/orbitz-drink/Supports: Introduced in 1996, flavour list, bottle size, Canadian origin, and discontinuation around 1999.
- TIME — https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1913612_1913610_1913561,00.htmlSupports: Marketing description as a texturally enhanced alternative beverage and consumer reaction.
- IUFoST — https://www.iufost.org/iufostold/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/106-Orbitz-Beverages.pdfSupports: Developed by the Clearly Canadian Beverage Corporation of Vancouver and withdrawn after weak sales.
- Museum of Failure — https://www.museumoffailure.com/exhibition/orbitz-sodaSupports: Unusual product concept, low sales, and later status as a collector’s item.